YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: When people join together to develop the world, the goal of the society is that people should be able to live in the land in an orderly, integrated, and normal manner. However, in order for the populace to live normally, it is necessary for some individuals to voluntarily dedicate themselves to efforts for the betterment of the society that far transcend the levels of normalcy.
We find this phenomenon in regard to a country’s soldiers. They sometimes have to go for long sleepless periods, on guard or in ambush for more hours than is healthy and normal. If they are noble people, they accept this burden upon themselves with love. In fact, they are happy with their work, as they know that only when they volunteer to put themselves in an abnormally difficult situation will they succeed in enabling their countrymen to live normal lives
The same is true of those special people to whom Hashem refers to as those who occupy themselves with Torah. They are the "brave soldiers on guard for their nation." They are the nation’s protective wall, protecting the nation as a whole. "I am a wall" – this is Torah; "and my breasts are like towers" – these are Torah scholars (Bava Batra 7b, based on Shir Hashirim 8:10).
If soldiers want to live their lives in normalcy and moderation, the nation is lost and no one will be able to live in tranquility. Then crime will increase and enemies will come to destroy it. For the same reason, Torah scholars need to be like soldiers who volunteer to work unusually hard in order to bring peace to the world and allow the light of Israel and the nation’s true life to continue properly. Therefore, they are to ignore the physical exhaustion that by necessity afflicts the majority of Torah scholars who toil in Torah study. Indeed, their physical body is expected to be smashed, and they are to be deprived of many of the pleasures of life and joys of the free-spirited. They are to push themselves physically, pressing themselves to the limit in order to enable full concentration on the intellectual requirements of scholarship, while pushing away feelings of pleasure that a broad life experience presents.
aIn this way, they can experience the great depth of abstract intellectual inquiry and moral contemplation, calculating how man can straighten his path and elevate himself above the desires that the evil inclination urges him to embrace. They do all of this without regard for that which they are missing in order to be able to teach others the good and straight path. The scholars are to kill the robust desire for enjoyment, which is fitting for the masses, but needs to be distant from the heart of those intellectuals who do the holy service of straightening the path of the nation.
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)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
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)
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: 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)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
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)
