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Beit Midrash
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- Vayikra
"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
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.
