Beit Midrash

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קטגוריה משנית
To dedicate this lesson
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(condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 1:56)

Gemara: There was a student who learned a lot of Mishna and Torah and studied a lot with Torah masters, and he died at half of his lifetime. [The gemara goes on to tell that this occurred because he was particularly lenient in his personal life when it came to family purity.]

Ein Ayah: The days of a person’s life can be broken up into two parts. The first part is when he completes himself, both in the physical realm and afterward in the Torah realms of knowledge and understanding and in the realm of ethics. In the second part of his lifetime, he should begin to influence others, sharing the goodness he has developed with those younger than he, so that they too can follow the straight path.
There are people who have ruined their standing in their personal development, and they are not even worthy of receiving a complete first stage of their life. About them the pasuk says, "Men of blood and trickery will not have even half of their days" (Tehillim 55:24).
In contrast, the young scholar about whom the gemara spoke was fit to complete his allotted days from a personal perspective. His shortcoming, which made it necessary for him to die, did not have to with his personal development but on the impact that his actions could cause in the future.
His problem was in regard to the second part of his life, which has to do with preparing the next generation and the impact on young people with whom he would come into contact. He was liable to cause deterioration in those who would receive from him. The small fissure in the scholar could turn into major deficiencies in those whom he would lead. That is why he died at half his lifetime, to avoid those dangerous outcomes and to allow others to train the next generation in the correct way.
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Lessons
  • Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
    Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
  • Rabbi Dov Lior
    Rabbi Dov Lior
  • Rabbi Avraham Shapira Zt"l
    Rabbi Avraham Shapira Zt"l
  • Rabbi Ya'akov Shapira
    Rabbi Ya'akov Shapira
  • Rabbi Eliyahu Brin
    Rabbi Eliyahu Brin
  • Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l
    Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l
  • Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
    Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
  • Rabbi S. Yossef Weitzen
    Rabbi S. Yossef Weitzen
  • Rabbi Chaim Avihau Schwartz
    Rabbi Chaim Avihau Schwartz
  • Rabbi Simcha Kook ZT"L
    Rabbi Simcha Kook ZT"L
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    Yitro

    Only Those Who Live In The Land Love G-d

    The Torah threatens punishment for idol-worshipers that is only 1/500th of the reward that the righteous will receive: "Concerning My enemies, I keep in mind the fathers' sins for their descendants, [only] to the 3rd and 4th generations. But for those who love Me and keep My commandments, I show love for [at least two] thousands of generations" (Sh'mot 20,5-6). The punishment is for four generations, and the reward for 2,000 generations. But the question we would like to address is: Why are the righteous termed both "those who love Me" and "those who keep My commandments?" Is not one enough?

    Rabbi Moshe Tzuriel | Shvat 19 5783
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    3 min
    Shlach Lecha

    For God's Sake Don't Go To Israel

    Israel National Torah

    Clarifying the spies' argument for not entering the Land of Israel...and then clarifying why it's so important to enter the Land anyway.

    Baruch Gordon | Sivan 19 5780
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    Serving as Chazan on the Shabbat Before a Yahrtzeit

    How important is it for someone to be chazan on the Shabbat before a yahrtzeit? Is it is just for parents, or also grandparents/in laws? Some people in my [the rabbi] shul feel that people use it as an excuse to “grab the amud.”

    Rabbi Daniel Mann | Tevet 2 5777
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    How Many Eggs Should be Boiled Together?

    When making hardboiled eggs, may one cook one or two eggs or must there be at least three? Also, does it make a difference if there is an even or odd number

    Rabbi Daniel Mann
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    P'ninat Mishpat

    Introduction and Biography of the Noda B’Yehuda

    After an extended period of presenting ideas of the Chatam Sofer on monetary disputes, we move on to a shorter series on the works of Rav Yechezkel Segal Landau, often called the Noda B’yehuda. (Although Rav Landau served as a dayan for many years, poskim do not usually publicize their rulings on cases in which they served as a dayan, but on questions asked by other rabbis. The Noda B’yehuda did not include many such cases in his reponsa.) Many view the Chatam Sofer and the Noda B’Yehuda as two of a kind. They were in the same basic time period (Rav Landau was around 50 years older), they were important rabbis of important communities at critical times, and the works of each are among the most respected and quoted by Acharonim.

    Various Rabbis | Tevet 8 5776
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    Working in a Non-Kosher Establishment

    Rabbi Daniel Mann | Sivan 14 5775
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    Prayer

    Birkot HaShachar – The Morning Blessings

    Chapter nine-part one

    Chapter nine-part one

    Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5775
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    Jewish Holidays

    The Twentieth of Sivan

    "I noticed that the back of my siddur contains a large section devoted to selichos for the 20th of Sivan, yet I have never davened in a shul that observed this day. What does this date commemorate?"

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Sivan 17 5780
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    Additional Lessons

    The Laws of Tumas Meis

    When the Beis Hamikdash is rebuilt, bimheirah beyameinu, the laws of tumah will affect us all, since we will be required to be tahor in order to enter the Beis Hamikdash, to eat korbanos and maaser sheini, and in order to separate challah and terumah.

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5772
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    Basics of Financial Laws

    How Does a Heter Iska Work?

    What is the prohibition of "Ribbit"? who does it apply on? How does the "Heter Iska" bypass the prohibition? and more...

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5770
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    Marriage and Relationships

    Relationships during the Time of Engagement

    A young engaged man and his fiancée naturally have very strong feelings for each other. It goes without saying that these will be expressed after the wedding, but what expression, if any, is permitted in the meantime? And while we're on the subject, is the attraction of men and women to each other really a good thing to begin with?

    Rabbi Elyakim Levanon | 5770
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    Other Great Leaders

    That a Cohen May Not Marry a Divorcee

    A few days later, a royal emissary of the Empress Maria Teresa appeared at the rabbi’s home. The surprised rabbi realized that the wealthy Jew had broken the convention by which Jews did not involve non-Jews in their inner disputes. He had no choice.

    Rabbi Shmuel Holshtein | 5769
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