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Beit Midrash
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"Should a soul sin and perform a betrayal of Hashem, and deny his counterpart’s claim regarding [various monetary obligations] … and swore falsely … he shall return … and his guilt offering he shall bring to Hashem" (Vayikra 5:25). There is no such a thing as a korban for a monetary sin that one perpetrates against his counterpart. This case is actually not a full exception, as the korban is only for cases where there is a false oath in which one invokes Hashem’s Name in the disgraceful context of a lie. However, the Torah seems to connect the betrayal of Hashem to the very denial of the money, and Rabbi Akiva (Sifra, Vayikra 372) confirms this view: "Why does it say ‘perform a betrayal of Hashem’? [When there are witnesses and documents,] he denies that which has witnesses and documents. When one gives to his friend something to watch and does not want anyone to know but the Third between them (Hashem), when he denies, he denies that which the Third is witness to."
On one level, this stresses the matter of the sinner’s caring that people will catch him in his lie and not care when "only" Hashem will catch him. The Malbim (ad loc.) explains so beautifully. When one lies in matters where proof can be brought before human judges, the judges are in charge of seeing to the consequences. However, when one lies in a matter where only Hashem knows, He enters the fray, so to speak, to take steps as necessary.
There is another element to this hybrid offense, which is instructive about our view of monetary crime. It is unfortunately not rare enough for someone who is ostensibly careful not to offend Hashem to not be so careful about cheating his counterpart, especially when he does not believe he can be caught (chillul Hashem, chas v’shalom). The Torah tells us that this is already a betrayal of Hashem. It also teaches us that it is likely to involve a more direct affront to Hashem in the form of using His Name in a false oath. Indeed, there many ways to shift from a white collar monetary crime to desecrating His Name, and they are all unspeakably regrettable. As the Torah says, a korban will be needed for such sins, even though it was perpetrated on purpose. (One might even be able to suggest that from the religious perspective, there is an element of mistake, as he may not realize that withholding an obligation to a friend is a betrayal of Hashem.) However, this is not enough, as first he must make amends to the person he wronged, without which the korban to Hashem is not effective (Bava Kama 110a).
May we always find ways in which we can act properly both to man and to Hashem and not get caught in behavior of sin, where sinfulness in one realm carries over to another.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.