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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Shavuot
- Preperation for Shavuot
So how, then, did we prepare for Matan Torah, the most momentous moment of our history?
The Torah tells us we had 3 days to get ready – "Shloshet Y’Mai Hagbala" - & G-d gave us 3 things to do in advance of the Revelation: Sanctify ourselves, set boundaries & wash our clothing. Just what do these things mean?
I suggest the following: Step 1, sanctification, was to impress upon us that we are a holy People, an Am Kadosh, worthy of receiving G-d’s greatest gift to Mankind. Without a healthy, heightened sense of self-respect & self-image, we would not have the sufficient stature to accept the laws of the Torah with the confidence that, yes, we definitely can live up to this most challenging & ambitious way of life.
But we also had to set boundaries. That is, we had to understand that just because we were being "upgraded" to the holiest nation on Earth did not mean that we could go
anywhere or do anything. There are limits. We are not G-d. We can approach Him, but we cannot be Him! At the end of the day, we are still human beings – bound to our
mortal capabilities & bound to make mistakes along the way. We have amazing powers, but yesh g’vul - there is a limit as to what we can & may do with these powers.
And what about this rather strange directive to "wash our clothes?" Seems rather mundane, doesn't it?
While some suggest this meant we should immerse in a Mikva, I have two other thoughts. First, I think this means that, as recipients of the Torah, we should "look the part." Our clothes should be clean. We should look & act in a dignified manner. We should be polite, considerate, kind, mentschlach. We believe, literally, that Derech Eretz Kadma L’Torah; good manners & civility precede the Torah.
Another thought: We have an expression, "Don’t air your dirty laundry in public." Accent on the words "in public." In private, one should indeed "air" his laundry, i.e. reflect on his shortcomings, examine his deeds & resolve to improve himself. For it is only when we bravely face our faults that we can "come clean" before Hashem & do Teshuva. Then and only then we are fully ready to embrace the Torah.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
