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Beit Midrash
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Let us look at other examples in Tanach where occurrences involving clothes indicate a crucial event. After Shmuel informed Shaul that Hashem had become disgusted by Shaul’s reign and turned to go, Shaul grabbed for Shmuel’s cloak, which tore as a result. Shmuel commented metaphorically: "Hashem has torn the Kingdom of Israel from you and given it to your counterpart who is better than you" (Shmuel I 15:26-28). We see in that context that the ripping of a garment was a sign of the removal of King Shaul from his reign.
A second case is when Shaul dressed the young David with his battle uniform so that David could fight Goliath (Shmuel I, 17:38). Chazal explain that Shaul understood that in the course of this action he had unwittingly appointed David as his replacement. David also had such an understanding, which would explain that David’s removal of the uniform was to not accept that distinction (see Rashi, ad loc.).
Eliyahu approached Elisha and threw him his mantle (aderet) (Melachim I, 19:19) as a sign that Elisha should follow him. Later on, Elisha lifted up Eliyahu’s aderet, which had fallen as Eliyahu was taken to the heavens, and used it to cause the Jordan to split and allow him to pass (ibid. II, 2:13-14). This transfer symbolized the student’s inheritance of his master’s prophetic leadership.
The famous story of Haman suggesting that Achashveirosh allow him to wear the king’s clothes (Esther 6:7-9) is another example of the symbolic significance of wearing a leader’s special clothes.
This thesis gives added meaning to the episode at the end of David’s life when his clothes failed to provide him with warmth (Melachim I, 1:1). The gemara (Berachot 62a) explains that whoever disgraces clothes will at some point lose the ability to benefit from them. The Radak describes this idea as an extreme one. However, we will explain it in a way that the Radak might be able to accept. We already discussed one case of David’s contact with Shaul’s clothes as a sign of his impending claim to the throne. When Shaul approached David while he was hiding in a cave, David ripped the corner of his cloak. This, too, represented a compromising of Shaul’s position. At the last stage of David’s life, he had to deal with the question of who would succeed him as king. Some of the people closest to David tried to usurp his right to make that decision. This situation finds expression in the idea of David’s clothes no longer being useful to him. The first section of Sefer Melachim describes how David dealt with that challenge (beyond our present scope).
Let us pray that we will be able to find the right way to identify the correct candidates for positions of spiritual leadership and to "clothe" them in the appropriate way for the task.
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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.