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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
Further investigation uncovers the possibility that fathers and sons are punished because of one another, at least on a certain level. We will mention a few examples. (I) When the death penalty is invoked, the potential future descendants of the executed lose their opportunity to be born. (This phenomenon is alluded to, according to one explanation in Rashi, by the pasuk regarding Hevel: "The voice of the blood (plural) of your brother ..." (Bereishit 4:10)). (II) In the Ten Commandments, the Torah describes Hashem as One who "recalls the sins of fathers on sons and third and fourth generations (Shemot 20:4). (III) Several sections in Tanach tell of kings who executed the families of those who the kings found to have wronged them (see Melachim II, 9:25; Divrei Hayamim II, 25:4).
None of these examples raises problems with our pasuk. The case of the unborn, while tragic, is not a punishment to a person but to a potential unborn, which our pasuk does not address. The cases of the kings are not relevant because they were carried out against halacha. There are also distinctions that explain the apparent contradiction from the Ten Commandments. Rashi (ad loc.) brings the Midrash that offspring receive punishment through the father only until the age of bar mitzva, whereas our pasuk mentions "ish" (a man). The gemara (Sanhedrin 27b) says that children are punished when they continue their father’s sinful behavior.
We can summarize as follows. Human courts may not punish one generation for the sins of another. The unborn are not "protected" by this rule. Whoever punishes an offender’s children is acting improperly.
Chazal learned from our pasuk an additional halacha, which has been adopted, at least partially, by secular court systems. The Torah law, as derived from our pasuk, is that beit din does not accept a relative’s testimony, neither to vindicate nor to vilify the litigant. So which does our pasuk refer to, to punishment of one because of the other’s actions or to not accepting testimony of one about the other? The Ramban says that Chazal understood that the same words of the same pasuk refer to both, one on the level of p’shat (simple meaning) and one on the level of drash (Rabbinic extrapolation). We see here, as elsewhere, that the different levels of understanding need not contradict but can complement each other.
Let us pray that the positive deeds of the different generations will bring only blessings one onto the other.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
