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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayeshev
In the story of Yehuda & Tamar, the Torah tells us that after Yehuda discovers that the woman he has impregnated is his daughter-in-law Tamar, he "ceases to be intimate with her anymore." Why, exactly, do I have to know this? Is it crucial to the story? And is Yehuda to be praised for this?!
Let’s back-track a bit. Parshat Vayeshev is really a story-within-a-story. First, there is the tale of the tragic jealousy & quarrel between Yosef & his brothers, who end up throwing him into a pit, & then into slavery.
Then there is the saga of Yehuda & Tamar. After Yehuda’s 2 eldest sons, Er & Onan, refuse to have relations with Tamar – fearing this would mar her beauty – Yehuda promises to give Tamar his 3rd son, Shelah. But he actually had no intention of honoring that promise, & so, after Yehuda’s wife dies, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute & seduces Yehuda, resulting in the birth of Peretz & Zerach.
What is the link between these 2 seemingly diverse stories?
The answer can be found in the verses that open two chapters: "At that time, Yehuda went down from his brothers….;" and, "Yosef was brought down to Egypt."
While Yosef’s descent was a physical one, Yehuda’s was a moral, spiritual decline. Yehuda had had the chance to save Yosef, but he chose to advise selling him, instead. He also allowed his father to believe that Yosef was dead, causing him untold grief. As the natural leader of the family, he abdicated his responsibility, & so he declined in stature & self-bearing, until he was finally reduced to consorting with prostitutes.
Yet at the very same time that Yehuda was acting morally degenerate, Yosef was going in the exact opposite direction, holding fast onto his own moral character. He befriended the baker & wine steward, listening kindly and patiently to their tales of woe, & then he refused the illicit advances of Mrs. Potiphar. So while the king, Yehuda, became slavish to his urges, the slave, Yosef, maintained a royal bearing.
But then Yehuda’s tryst was uncovered, & he had to make a decision. Would he hide his indiscretion & let Tamar die, or would he step up and confess to his actions? He chose the right path, admitting that Tamar was more righteous than he.
And then adds the pasuk, "He ended his intimacy with her." Technically, he could have continued, say Chazal. But having relations with one’s daughter-in-law - even before the Torah was given, with its rules of who one may or may not marry - was odious. And so Yehuda did the right thing. And this started him back on the road to redemption. For admitting a sin is just the first step; resolving never to repeat it, refusing to commit that sin again, is the real test of strength.
Yehuda stopped the lyin’ & reverted back to Yehuda the Lion.
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts