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It is thus a surprise to find that shemen hamishcha was used to anoint Shaul (Shmuel I, 10:1) and David (ibid. 16:1) as kings. After all, neither of them was a kohen! Rashi (Shemot 30:33) seems to hint at an answer, as he says that it is forbidden to put the oil on a zar "not for the purposes of priesthood or kingdom." In other words, a king is not considered a zar here. This is a difficult answer, though, as whenever a zar is forbidden to do something, a king is included in the prohibition (see Shabbat 31a).
The Ibn Ezra cites an answer from a source from the Geonim – there was a tradition that a special exception was made for David and his descendants. In other words, it is based on the concept that a prophet is allowed to declare a limited exception to halacha for the needs of the time.
The Ramban (Shemot 30:33) gives a more fundamental answer. The use of the holy oil, which was given "for Me for generations" (see Shemot 30:31), was supposed to be used for those who are particularly set aside for Hashem. Whoever is not in that special category is considered a zar in this context. Just as the kohen was anointed to be Hashem’s, so too the king was anointed to be Hashem’s. This, he says, is in line with the pasuk: "I found my servant David, with the oil of My holiness I anointed him." The Ramban explains that since both the kohen and the appointed king are called mashiach (as we find in regard to both Shaul and David), it is appropriate that they use shemen hamishcha.
The conclusion we can arrive at from the Ramban is that the kingdom of Israel, i.e., its political leadership, is part of the "leadership of sanctity." Any attempt to separate between the Torah/religion and between the government in Israel will not work and is against Jewish tradition. One should prefer to connect the two and view the entire leadership as part of the worlds of Torah, spirituality, and the public sphere.
What then is the point of anointing the king with oil if we have seen several times that it is the nation who chooses the king? Let us suggest the following. Every leader has to make decisions based on calculations of gain and loss. At times, especially at critical times, there is a need for divinely provided insight, which we could call "divine assistance" or "the spirit of Hashem," in order to decide. This ability gives the leader a special standing. David and his offspring received this present, for which the anointment is part of the preparation. Let us pray that our public leadership will be blessed with such assistance, even if we no longer have the shemen hamishcha.
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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.
