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Beit Midrash
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The Omer is different. The Torah says to start counting from the day after the Sabbath, which means the first day of Passover and for 7 weeks. The Torah emphasizes the Omer starts from Pesach and ends on Shavuot, but despite this, the first day of Passover and Shavuot are not part of the counting. The Torah gave the Omer three separate parts, a beginning,a middle and an end, the question is What does it mean?
Back to the story. Initial and middle portions of the story are the process, the steps from the opening to the end point. Sometimes the only goal is to reach the end and then we do not care what was in the beginning and what happened in the middle, as long as we get to the end. A good story is different. We understand the importance of the beginning to set the scene , and we want to get to the end, BUT the point is to enjoy the process in between. Only fools skip to the last page of the book!
This idea is also true for the Omer. There is a stage of leaving Egypt, a physical slavery to physical freedom . There is the final stage of the receiving of the Torah, building a spiritual level above the physical world, and there is the process. Some look at the days of the Omer as days of expectation for the Torah, we count the days and wait (impatiently) for Shavuot.
Although this explanation is true, the Omer has a deeper meaning. These days are not just days of expectation, but also days of work, of progress and process from the start point to end. In the process of leaving Egypt and becoming a nation we distinguish between the initial state which stands for itself, the goal at the end which stands for itself and the process. All of these are important and each one of these days has its meaning.
The Omer days are not only the days between Passover and Shavuot, but the days that allow us to go from Passover to Shavuot. We are not just waiting for the days to pass, but rather go through a process so we are able to receive the Torah.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
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.
