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Beit Midrash
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The navi (Shoftim 6:2-12) tells us that the Midianites were oppressively dominating Israel, who called out to Hashem for help. Gidon was, at the time his involvement began, dealing with the wheat in the field, when an angel appeared to him and called to him, "Hashem is with you, man of valor." Gidon replied: "Hashem is with us?! Why did all of these events happen to us? Where are all of His miracles that our fathers told us about, when they told us that Hashem took us out of Egypt, but now He has forsaken us and given us over to the hands of Midian?" The angel responded: "Go with this strength and save Israel from the hands of Midian, for I have sent you."
It is possible to look at Gidon’s words as chutzpa toward Hashem. However, Rashi does not look at it that way. He explains that it was Pesach, and Gidon said: "Last night, my father read for me the Hallel and I heard him say, ‘When Israel left Egypt …’ but now we are forsaken. If our forefathers were righteous, save us in their merit. If they were wicked, save us just as You did miracles for them [without merit]." Gidon’s reasoning changes the apparent complaints into a prayer to Hashem that He should save Israel. The midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Shoftim 62) explains: "Since he spoke up in defense of Israel, Hashem decided to reveal Himself to Gidon and tell him that he should take this strength of defending Israel and save Israel with the merit of that trait."
Chazal found another element of the story that is related to Pesach. Gidon snuck up on the enemy camp to hear what people were saying, as Hashem had suggested. He heard one telling of his dream, wherein a loaf of barley bread was rolling through the camp of Midian and overturning it (Shoftim 7:13). The midrash says, on one hand, that Bnei Yisrael were bereft of righteous people. On the other hand, this loaf was referring to the mitzva of omer, which was a meal-offering of barley brought on the second day of Pesach. This mitzva had stood up as merit for the people. Note that barley is usually the food of animals, not people. Rav Kook explained that the korban omer represents the simplicity and natural belief that Bnei Yisrael possessed as ‘believers the sons of believers.’
The two midrashim are two sides of the same coin. Even when there are no righteous people, one still has to defend Israel. Only one who can do this has the characteristics to be their savior.
Let us internalize this idea on the night of the seder. The path to liberation runs through the ability to find that which is good and speak up on behalf of Hashem’s dear children.
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.
