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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayishlach
One of the more perplexing aspects of the encounter is that after the angel bestows a new name upon Yakov – "Yisrael: He who struggles triumphantly with G-d & Man" – Yakov asks the angel what his name is! The angel seemingly does not answer, putting Yakov off by saying, "Why do you ask what my name is?!"
But the Hebrew of this phrase – "Lama zeh tish’al lishmi" – is quite unusual. What is the word "zeh- this" doing in there? It seems superfluous; in fact, the sentence would make much better sense without it, if it simply said: "Lama tish’al lishmi?"
Now, we know that there are no punctuation marks in the Torah; in fact even the separation between words is subject to interpretation. So, if you read the last word ("lishmi") as two words instead of just one, you get the phrase, "lama zeh tish’al li: sh’mi," meaning, "‘Why do you ask me this’ IS my name!"
Rashi & other commentators identify Yakov’s adversary as Esav’s guardian angel, a malevolent figure who meant to do harm to Yakov & his (Torah) way of life. And so his self-declared name, & essence, make a lot of sense. For the philosophy of, "Don’t ask me any questions!" is indeed a serious threat to Torah learning & the acquisition of spiritual knowledge. It is davka via the medium of asking the most probing & penetrating questions that we confront & challenge the subject at hand, & ultimately arrive at the truth.
Every Yeshiva student who has ever learned Gemara knows that the Rebbe gives you one point for a great answer, but two points for a good question!
We live in a world where, too often, many Jews are told, "Why do you ask me this - don’t ask any questions! Accept whatever you are told, without any doubt or delay!" To question authority is heresy, blasphemy, apikorsis! But that is a very wrong and dangerous attitude; the entire Talmud, in fact, is one long series of questions - & approaches.
After the Exodus from Egypt, Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael (Ex. 13:14): "V’haya ki yish’alcha bin’cha machar laymor: Mah Zot?….And it shall be, when your son asks you tomorrow what is this (the Pesach ritual), you shall tell him….etc." With a touch of Rabbinic license, we can read the phrase a bit creatively: "When your son asks you a question, then you know there will be a tomorrow," a future for the Jewish People.
The mark of a Jew, without question, is the Question Mark.
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
