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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
The first question can be dealt with on a straightforward level. Yericho was situated close to the crossing region of the Jordan, and in that way stood as a gateway to the Land as a whole. Midrash Tanchuma (B’haalotcha 18) indeed calls it the lock of the Land, and explains the reasoning that "if Yericho is conquered, the Land is conquered." Yet, the other questions remain unanswered.
A spiritual approach will provide a deep answer for all the questions. The Land of Israel is a holy land, and as the mishna (Mikvaot 8:1) says, it is pure. This status began when Yehoshua Bin Nun brought the nation into the Land, turning the Land of C’na’an into Eretz Yisrael. This was not a geographical or a political change but a spiritual one.
C’na’an, the person, was the partner of his father, Cham, in the horrible act that was done to Noach when the latter was drunk (Bereishit 9:21-22). Whether it was castration or sodomy (see Rashi ad loc.), it was certainly an act that contradicted a life of sanctity and purity. About such a lifestyle, Chazal already taught us through the plans of Bilam: "The G-d of this nation hates promiscuity. Let me give you advice: ‘put up partitions and place in them zonot’" (Sanhedrin 106a).
Yehoshua’s spies came to the house of Rachav, the local zonah, and the result was that she repented and converted. She, who had represented the situation of the Land before Bnei Yisrael entered it, now represented the transformation of the Land into Eretz Yisrael. The city, then, had to remain in its destroyed form to symbolize the transformation. Rebuilding it could be understood as an attempt to return to the ways of the Land before the spies came to Yericho. The mound of ruins in the gateway to the country needed to announce before those who entered: "This is the Land of Israel, not the Land of Cham and C’na’an," prompting Yehosua’s ban and curse on the rebuilding.
A strong indication of the above thesis can be found in Melachim. The wicked kings that sprouted up learned from and imported wives from the neighbors. The most notorious of these wicked queens was Izevel, wife of Achav and princess of the Tziddonim, descendants of the firstborn of C’na’an. She was well known in the field of promiscuity, and her worship involved it (see Melachim I 22:38). It thus should not come as a surprise that Achav’s friend Chiel is the one who built the ruins of Yericho. This is mentioned after the navi says that Achav worshipped Asheira, the female element of the worship of the Ba’al (ibid. 16:33).
If we want to hold on securely to the Land, we should try to ensure that it be treated like the Land of Israel and not the Land of C’na’an.
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.