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Beit Midrash
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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
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
