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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Yitro
Yotam was well described by his name, which hints at completeness in righteousness. The first two letters of his name hint at Hashem’s name and the final two letters spell tam, meaning complete or righteous. In fact, Yotam is the only king, including the righteous ones, of whom there is no hint of sin or criticism. There is no mention of problematic behavior – not in Melachim, nor in Divrei Hayamim, nor in the words of the prophets who operated in his time (Hoshea, Amos, Yeshaya, and Micha).
There is extreme praise for Yotam in the writings of Chazal. The gemara in Sukka (45b), for example, says that if the merit of Yotam were added on to those of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son they could save the world from the time of its creation until the end of time. Rashi (ad loc.) said the following: "Yotam ben Uziyahu was a righteous man, who was more humble than other kings. He merited to show honor to his father, and for this reason, the pasuk "a son shall honor his father" (Malachi 1:6) is attributed to him, for all the days that his father suffered from leprosy and Yotam would judge the people, as it says ‘Yotam the son of the king was over the palace judging’ (Melachim II, 15:5), he did not wear the crown during his [father’s] life, and all the rulings he rendered he did in his father’s name." Rabbi Tzaddok Hacohen said that he was the completion of King Shlomo, as there was nothing lacking in him.
A couple weeks ago we discussed the phenomenon of passages in the Prophets that do not seem to work out from a historical perspective. This phenomenon occurs in regard to Yotam, as well. The navi, speaking about the parallel king of the Northern Tribes of Israel, says that Hoshea ben Elah became king during the twentieth year of the reign of Yotam (Melachim II, 15:30). This is difficult because Yotam was king for only sixteen years and was succeeded by Achaz, who was a wicked king. One of the answers of the author of Seder Olam (a historical work from a scholar of the Talmudic period) is that the navi preferred to date to the beginning of Yotam’s reign, after he died, rather than to Achaz, while he lived.
We now see the completion of the circle. Yotam’s father was a sinner who was considered dead when he was alive, and Yotam, his righteous son, was considered alive when he was dead. Life and death can refer to moral statuses rather than biological ones.
Let us pray for a "resurrection of the dead," in the form of a return of the whole nation to proper values, and a realization that spiritual elevation and performing good deeds are more important than material gain.
Rabbis in Midrash
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
