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Beit Midrash
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Okay, fair enough. But I still don’t see why Shmita has to be the Mitzva that represents all the other Mitzvot. Why not choose kashrut, Shabbat, love the convert, etc? What is it exactly about Shmita that makes it so special?
The usual answer to this question is that observing Shmita requires a great deal of Emuna, faith. After all, doing without one’s field in an agricultural society & counting on Hashem to provide for up to three years requires a lot of faith. And so, by extension, performing any Mitzva is, essentially, an act of faith.
But there is a variation on this theme that I think goes to the core of Shmita’s salient significance. Shmita is illogical; it is anti-social, it goes against the norms of economic activity. How can people just walk away from their livelihood for a whole year? How can they stop producing foodstuffs that the nation needs? Can you imagine if the Torah commanded us to cease all hi-tech activity for 12 months? Or ordered the police, hospitals or sewage/sanitation workers to walk off the job for a year?
And when you factor in the opinion of many agronomists that letting the land go fallow every 7 years does nothing to enrich its nutrients, it seems even more absurd!
So I suggest there are 2 objectives at work here: First, treat the land (of Israel) as a living thing! Respect it, nurture it, appreciate it. And just as we have our Shabbat, it has its own, as well. The lesson, by extension, is that all the Torah is Torat Chayim, a living Torah.
Moreover, accept the fact that if humans had created the Torah, they never would have invented Shmita! Only Hashem could command such an extreme & seemingly absurd directive. But that is precisely the point: Do not follow the Torah because it makes perfect sense to you (like, for example, the 7 Noachide mitzvot); follow it purely because it is G-d’s will. Tho it may rub against our intellectual sensibilities & humble us to do things that confound us, that is how all of the Mitzvot must be approached & why Shmita is the Mitzva par excellence.
The sublimation of OUR mortal wisdom to that of G-d, our steadfast belief even in the face of disbelief, is perhaps what causes Hashem, in turn, to ALSO do things that are beyond belief - such as keeping the Jewish People alive forever, and allowing us to return to and reclaim our ancient homeland. It's illogical, absurd, against every norm of history, and it certainly confounds our enemies.
But guess what? It works - we are here!
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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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.