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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.
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.