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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tetze
(Thus the classic trivia question: What one Mitzva in the Torah cannot ever be done with kavana, intent!).
From here we see that even if one performs a good act unwittingly, without his knowledge, Hashem counts this in our "plus column," because He assumes that, deep down, we always have the intention of doing chesed, whether we manage to exercise that intent or not. So G-d is, as it were, dan l’kaf z’chut, assuming the best about us – a good lesson for us to apply during the month of Elul.
But I see another important lesson in the concept of shich’cha. The ability to forget – something we associate with growing old, or the illness of dementia, chas v’shalom - does not always have to be a bad thing. What a wonderful gift it would be if we could manage to forget the petty indiscretions that might have been done to us over the years, the flippant remarks sent our way, or the occasional snub – real or perceived – that caused us to separate from our fellow Jew, or defame him in return.
What if – like the farmer in our sedra – we could just turn our back on those things & walk away, without a second thought? And if, later, they did come to mind, we could shrug our shoulders & say, "What’s done is done; I’ve moved on to a new row, a new & better place."
That, in a sense, is the essence of Teshuva, not so much returning as turning, starting in a different direction.
Yet fittingly, our Sedra ends by reminding us that there are certain things which we should not, must not forget. The last of the parsha’s mitzvot – indeed, the literal "last words" of the sedra – command us to remember & never forget - Zachor, lo tishkach - the evil that Amalek perpetrated upon us when we left Egypt, & throughout our history. As quick as we must be to forget the hurtful things done to us by our fellow Jews, that is how steadfast & vigilant we must be to stay acutely aware of our true enemies & the real danger which they represent to our holy way of life.
There is a fine, but crucial line, between being a forgiver and a freier. Let’s be sure not to cross it.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
