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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Purim & The Month of Adar
- The Essence of Purim
Maran Harav zt"l – Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Kook, wrote short sentences that highlight the deep meaning of each month of the year. For the month of Adar he wrote: "Those who recall the surrounded (cities) from the days of Joshua, cannot remain slaves of Ahasuerus." When we look at the depth of this sentence, we find that a great lesson of faith and trust in the continued existence of the nation, even in difficult times when we don't see signs of the strength of the nation.
At the time of Joshua, the problem was the weakness of the spies who complained and said: "Howbeit! the people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified, and very great." This sentence denied the ability of Israel to battle against seven nations sitting in the cities and castles. As a response, Caleb and Joshua and stood up and elevated the spirit of the people saying: "We should go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." Although there are enemies in walled cities and giants, if we try we can win the war and we can overcome them.
When we are happy on Purim for the miracles we had in the past, and "recall surrounded from the days of Joshua", we remember the great spirit of Joshua and Caleb, who stood in front of all the difficulties and defeated the fortified towns protected by a wall. This joy has tremendous power; it gives us the spirit of faith and heroism.
Just like those days, when the situation was difficult on a rational level, and yet our people did not lose hope and faith in G-d's supervision, so we tell ourselves in these difficult times: "For the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance" (Ps 94, 14). Am Yisrael is a nation of eternity! We passed through the most difficult situations in the past, and with G-d's help we will overcome hard situations we have these days. The main thing is to draw courage and confidence from Purim for future challenges.
Hopefully, we will soon see G-d's salvation of his people and his inheritance, and our people will wake up again to reconnect to the Divine source of life, which is the only source for happiness and joy, as in the days of Mordechai and Esther.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
