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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
When the rains stop & the waters abate, it is time for Noach to step out & encounter a Brave New World. But Noach is reluctant; he must actually be commanded by G-d to leave the ship; only then does he venture forth.
Significantly, the Torah uses the name Elokim here ("Vay’daber Elokim el Noach: Tzay min haTeyva!") rather than "Hashem." Elokim denotes strictness, indicating that G-d had to forcefully "evict" Noach from his place of residence, & that He was somewhat perturbed that Noach did not want to exit the Ark of his own volition.
But we can fully sympathize with Noach’s mind-set. The world he had known is now gone forever; it has become a global "ghost-town," no doubt littered with corpses & rubble everywhere. Where will he go; how will he start over? Is it any wonder that he immediately turns to drink, trying to drown out his despair & depression?
Noach prefers to stay inside the Teyva. There, despite the squawking & baying & barking of the four-legged passengers, Noach is safe. He has his family, he has his memories, he has his work with the animals to keep him occupied. Why leave that sanctuary to enter the unknown; why must HE be the one to repopulate Earth?
Noach’s feelings are genuine, human, understandable emotions. We should be sympathetic to Noach, for we would probably feel exactly the same way. Starting over – particularly after experiencing a tragedy – is traumatic & terrifying. But Hashem commands it, & so. like it or not, we must go.
Is this not the pattern of our own lives? We are nurtured by our parents in our own little "Ark" – perhaps even with a pet or two! – but then we must grow up & go out. We attend Yeshiva, or university or kollel, & wish we could spend our whole lives there. But G-d has other ideas; He wants us to face the world - & hopefully change its face for the better.
Is this not also the microcosm of our entire national history? Were we not forced to rebuild our ravaged communities? Did we not see our worlds destroyed, & then be told we must begin again? That we have done, for so long, with amazing success. Let us hope that the Ark has now finally come to rest, here at home, in Eretz Yisrael.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
