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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Masei
However, there are times when, as we say, "Ayn ha-kra yotzei miday p’shutu" – the verse’s "superficial" meaning cannot & should not be disregarded. That is, its plain, unadulterated meaning tells it like it is.
Perhaps the perfect example of this is found in our sedra of Masey. Just before the Torah delineates the borders of Eretz Yisrael, Hashem warns us in no uncertain terms:
"When you enter the Land of Canaan, you shall drive out the inhabitants from before you, destroying & demolishing all their idolatrous places. You shall inherit the Land, you shall possess it & dwell in it, for I have given it to you as an inheritance."
"But if you do NOT expel those who are living in the Land, then those who are left there shall be ‘pins in your eyes’ & ‘thorns in your sides.’ They will harass & terrorize (‘tzar’ru’) you in your Land. And it will be that whatever I had meant to do to them, I shall do to you."
For many, many years, the initial inability of Joshua to drive out foreign inhabitants from Israel plagued us. Wars against "locals" were frequent & often furious. The P’lishtim (Palestinians?) living in Gaza were among our most dastardly & determined enemies (see the story of Samson & various episodes throughout Tanach as examples) who continually conducted hit-and-run attacks against us.
And now, today, so many centuries after Hashem made His declaration, the dire prophecy once again rings true. The "pins & thorns" have developed into rockets & missiles, and the threat is more deadly than it ever was before. G-d’s chilling rebuke, "That which I meant to do to
them, I will do to you," is ringing in our ears. It suggests that, G-d forbid, if we do not drive these people out, then WE are the ones who will be driven out. In plain language: It is Us, or Them.
The fight we fight is not only moral & just, self-defensive & necessary for our survival. It is also G-d’s will. May He grant Israel security & our courageous chayalim success in their holy mission.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
