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Beit Midrash
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The pasuk states: "A house did he make for the daughter of Paroh, whom Shlomo married" (Melachim I, 7:8). We have explained in the past that the fact that Shlomo took so many wives was a sign that he was able to create diplomatic relations with many kings and leaders, who gave their daughters to Shlomo’s as wives because they recognized his greatness. Realize that the longstanding practice in days of old was that the stronger king would take the daughter of the weaker king as a wife. Shlomo’s goal was to influence many nations by means of his wives and the "embassies" opened around them, bringing them to acceptance of Hashem as the one, ultimate King. The marriage with Paroh’s daughter was the crown jewel in this regard.
The aforementioned house for Paroh’s daughter was not an individual house but was actually the Foreign Ministry of the kingdom, out of which a variety of diplomatic activities were carried out. By calling the building after Paroh’s daughter, Shlomo was essentially announcing to the nation and the world: "If Paroh gave me his daughter and thus recognized my supremacy, no one can question my international standing." For this reason, the navi sets aside several p’sukim for this topic.
One important pasuk, which opens the discussion about Shlomo as an independent king after his father’s death, reads as follows: "Shlomo married with Paroh, the King of Egypt, and he took the daughter of Paroh and brought her to the City of David, until he finished building his house, the House of Hashem, and the walls of Yerushalayim around it" (Melachim I, 3:1).
Let us notice a few points of interest in the pasuk. 1) The marriage is described as being with Paroh, not with his daughter, for the connection that the marriage made between the two leaders of the most important empires of the time was the purpose of the marriage. 2) The daughter of Paroh waited in the City of David until "her home" was ready. 3) The building project included a governmental building, the Beit Hamikdash, and the security apparatus of the city. As a pasuk of summary, the navi says: "However, the daughter of Paroh went up from the City of David to her house that he built for her; then he built the milo (Melachim I, 9:24).
Let us put the matter into perspective based on our understanding that this house served as a Foreign Ministry. The milo, next to which it was situated, was a project to level out the area to aid those going by foot to the Beit Hamikdash. Shlomo wanted these masses, Jewish and non-Jewish, according to his vision, to notice on the way to the Mikdash that Paroh had made this unprecedented vote of confidence in Shlomo’s reign. It highlighted the place of Yerushalayim and the Beit Hamikdash as the centers of the whole world, as Yeshaya would, centuries later, prophesy regarding the End of Days.
Let us hope that in our days, the Foreign Ministry will succeed in spreading Jewish values throughout the world… without resorting to marriages.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
