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Beit Midrash
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It intrigued me to learn that the Aron was actually three separate "boxes," each inside the other. The outer two were made of gold, the inner one of wood. At first it seemed to me that the Aron was somewhat deceptive, only appearing as if it was all pure gold, while in actuality having a wooden middle.
But then it was pointed out to me that G-d in his mercy took pity on those who would carry the Aron, & so He ordered that it not be made completely out of gold, which would make it tremendously heavy (gold is among the very heaviest of metals, 20 times heavier than water!).
The lesson to be learned here: Hashem never gives us a task too heavy to bear.
The Talmud (Yoma 72) has another spin on the multi-boxed construction: It learns from the Aron’s inner & outer layers of gold that a pious Jew should be "tocho k’boro", pure both inside & out. That is, his external persona, the one that the public sees, should be equally matched by his inner, private self; both should be "golden." Too often, we are mesmerized by someone’s superficiality, by his externals, & we fail to realize that a very different kind of person may lurk just beneath the surface.
In younger days, I attended many lectures by Isaac Bashevis Singer, the celebrated Yiddish author & Nobel Prize winner. I must tell you, he was a great inspiration to me; once he even took the time to share some of his insights into writing with me, urging me to first & foremost "tell the story" & let that - rather than fancy verbiage - always be at the heart of my work. I credited his influence in the forward to Shammas, the book of short stories I was privileged to write some years ago.
But later, I learned, sadly, that Singer was a pretty unsavory character, who had abandoned his first wife & son – who never forgave him – as well as the Orthodox lifestyle in which he was raised. The inner soul of the man, alas, was not nearly as golden as the genius without.
And if one has to choose between the inner & outer self? That’s a no-brainer. Clearly, what matters most is who we are on the inside. This we can learn from G-d’s famous directive in our Sedra, as we are charged to build His house: V’asu li Mikdash, v’shachanti b’tocham – Make me a holy place & I will dwell within you!"
At the end of the day it’s what’s inside that counts.
Rabbis in Midrash
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
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.
