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Beit Midrash
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- Bereshit
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I suggest that there is something very important hidden in the story of Yosef. I believe that Yosef’s personal saga and journey through life is actually the "roadmap" for the entire history of our exile and our redemption! That is, whatever happens to Yosef during his lifetime exactly parallels what happens in the national life of Am Yisrael!
Let us consider:
- Yosef is the "favorite son" of Yakov, just as we are the chosen, favorite, first-born of Hashem.
- Yosef innately understands that he is an elite leader, before whom others will come to bow; this subconscious knowledge emerges in his dreams. But Yosef is also tentative, unsure, and at times overly boastful of this role – all stages which we, too, go through as a nation.
- Yosef fights with his brothers. Clearly, intra-Jewish bickering has plagued our whole history, even so far as creating whole "movements" within Judaism that fiercely battle one another.
- Yosef must go into exile – just as we were forced to do – but there he learns to do chesed (as when he reaches out to the butler and baker) and eventually will rise to great prominence, becoming a blessing to the whole world, which he feeds as the "mashbir." Similarly, we became illustrious in the exile, proving to be a blessing for every country in which we lived, helping their economies, their education, winning Nobel prizes and sharing our wisdom with the rulers there, from sultans to kings to presidents.
Eventually, Yosef understands that he must be a unifier, that he must reconcile with his brothers and bring the family together. This he does by bridging the generation gap and assembling his entire family, from Yakov to Efraim. At the same time, Yosef realizes that Egypt – the exile, the Diaspora - cannot be the ultimate meeting-place for Am Yisrael. Jewish life ultimately cannot, will not flourish in the barren soil of galut; only Israel can fulfill that need. So he makes his family swear they will return to Eretz Yisrael, taking the "bones" of past generations with them.
We, too, are finally coming to a rapprochement with our brothers, and it is occurring in Israel, as Jews from all over the world gather here to define and develop their Jewish souls. We carry the "bones" and ashes of the past, and we bring them to life here. Yosef, the favorite son, lives again.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
