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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
Let us return to the building of Yericho, which we discussed last week. Chiel rebuilt Yericho despite the curse of Yehoshua and paid a serious price: in the beginning of the process his elder son Aviram died, and his younger son Seguv died later, as Yehoshua had predestined (Melachim I 16:34). The next pasuk in the navi begins the story of a decree that Eliyahu made that there would be rain in Israel only when Eliyahu decreed it, which was followed by a long drought. The gemara (Sanhedrin 113a) tells a fascinating story, combining the two stories.
King Achav was a close friend of Chiel, and he went with Eliyahu to visit Chiel (either for the consecration of Yericho or for nichum aveilim- Rashi). Achav cynically questioned the effectiveness of Yehoshua’s curse regarding the building of Yericho. When Eliyahu confirmed his belief in Yehoshua’s curse, Achav said scornfully: "The curses of Yehoshua’s master, Moshe, did not come true, as Moshe said that if the people will worship idolatry, Hashem will hold back rain. We worshipped," Achav said, "and the rain continued. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that Yehoshua’s curses have any effect." In response, Eliyahu asked Hashem for the "keys to rain" and withheld rain from Achav’s kingdom.
Based on the above, we can propose the following further background for the story. Yeravam ben Nevat, after rebelling against Shlomo, built calves for illegal worship, against the explicit commandment of Moshe. This same Yeravam called his son Nadav, the same name as the son of Aharon who died because he challenged Moshe’s authority by making rulings in his presence. Yeravam was trying to indicate that he was the moral continuation of Aharon who had also erected a calf for worship. Another person who used the naming of a son as a means of creating a historical connection to someone who challenged Moshe was Chiel. He called his son Aviram, thus trying to continue the legacy of opposing Moshe, and he and Achav scoffed at what Moshe and his disciple, Yehoshua, stood for. Chiel built Yericho based on Achav’s claim that Moshe’s threats were meaningless, making light of Yehoshua, his disciple. Indeed, Chiel paid the price, as his son died for this brazenness – one Aviram like the other.
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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.