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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
Tosafot (ad loc.) cites the midrash that like a small child running away from school, "so [Bnei Yisrael] were running away from Mt. Sinai a path of three days, for they had learned there much Torah." The simple understanding is that they were afraid that if they remained longer they might receive even more commandments, and so they left hastily. There seems to be a hint of the haste in the phrase the midrash repeats twice, "a path of three days," that they actually traversed it in one day (see Rashi on chumash). But it is still difficult to understand the criticism for diligence to follow Hashem’s lead on a path pointing toward Eretz Yisrael.
Bnei Yisrael were correctly happy to move on their way toward the future challenges and opportunities ahead. However, they did not properly appreciate the importance of the spiritual provisions they were to bring from Mt. Sinai, or the difficulty of the road ahead. The midrash’s stressing of the fact that the path should have taken three days implies that the speed of the travel was part of the problem, in addition to the desire to leave. Bnei Yisrael did not appreciate that a path of three days should take three days. One cannot always arrive at the destination earlier than ordained.
Rashi (on the gemara, ibid.) says that the first puranut was, "the rabble in their midst had a desire, and Bnei Yisrael also wept again, saying, ‘who will feed us meat’" (Bamidbar 11:5). This is very difficult, as this event is found after the miton’nim, and the encapsulated p’sukim do not separate between them. We can explain as follows. Bnei Yisrael’s lack of readiness to leave Mt. Sinai in an orderly fashion lead to a lack of spiritual balance, which gave rise to the subsequent ascendance of the rabble to prominence. It is this root of the problem that the Torah identifies as the puranut.
There is a lesson in all of this for our lives. We often correctly identify a distant goal as a Divinely ordained challenge in our lives. But we do not always appreciate how the tools we received at Sinai are ones we need to gather up carefully and lovingly to accompany us on the path and make it a safe one. We are also not always patient enough to know that it takes a long time to cover a long distance, and we need to pace ourselves appropriately to arrive in peace.
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)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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)
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
