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Beit Midrash
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Let us learn from this deceptively significant pasuk something that impacts greatly on contemporary Israeli society – one which threatens to explode at any moment as a highly dangerous issue. Amongst us, there live more than 300,000 young men and women, who come from Jewish families who are not halachically Jewish and need geirut (conversion) in order to become so. At other opportunities, we have cited the opinion of the Rama and the decision of Chief Rabbi Benzion Uziel that we should try to draw close people of Jewish ancestry who are not halachically Jewish. This calls upon us to encourage such people to convert, rather than the classic approach regarding other "candidates" for conversion to initially push them away. Pushing away such people is very dangerous to our nation, just as we will now learn happened in regard to Timna, the concubine of Elifaz, the son of Eisav.
The Midrash Aggada (Vayishlach 36) tells that Timna was a princess who was inspired to want to marry a descendant of Avraham Avinu. The gemara (Sanhedrin 99b) explains that Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov refused to accept her (because of a matter of problematic personal status). She decided that it would be preferable to be a servant in this family than a noblewoman in another nation and therefore became a concubine to Elifaz. The gemara tells that for this reason, she became the mother of Amalek, who of course caused great pain to the Jewish People. The gemara says that the great leaders of our nation made a mistake by distancing her from the family.
Let us pray that we will merit returning our brothers and sisters, descendants of our own people, to the fold of the nation and the special connection to Hashem. We should remember that the Communist regime did whatever they could to erase the name of the Nation of Israel from among the nations. These people are the remnants who survived and came home to the Land of Israel. We should draw them close with open arms with a hope that they will serve Hashem in a full Jewish life facilitated by the process of geirut.
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)
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)
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
