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Beit Midrash
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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
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.
