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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
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- Mishpatim
comment on the Vav – a word which means "hook" - & tell us that just as the 10 Commandments in the previous Sedra of Yitro come from Hashem, so do the 53 ordinances in this Sedra also emanate from the Almighty (as do all Mitzvot) & that is also why the Bet HaMikdash & the Sanhedrin had to be located right next to one another.
The point of this, of course, is that we should not err by thinking that the "big" commandments – e.g. Do not murder, Shabbat, idolatry, etc. – are what G-d really cares about, & the other, seemingly "minor" Mitzvot are of much lesser importance. The fact is, they ALL have a Divine origin & power of their own, & it is not up to the individual to pick & choose what he deems to be of value.
Do you remember the T-shirts mothers used to wear that proclaimed: Because I said so! In other words, "Don’t always press me for an explanation & a reason; just accept that I am the mother, you are the child, & what I say, goes!"
And so the Mitzvot. That is why the first of the 10 Commandments is not really a commandment at all. It just announces, "I am Hashem!
Everything I say from here on out, in this Sedra & following, is what I expect you to do - because I said so!"
When human beings decide it is up to them to choose which Mitzvot are relevant, it not only undermines the authority of G-d, it is a very dangerous business. Because, ultimately, the Torah’s laws are for our own good, & abridging or abandoning any of them will invariably diminish our well-being, or actually hurt us.
While working at the university newspaper back in my college days, I was asked to interview Mose Durst, who was speaking on campus on behalf of Sun Myung Moon & his Unification Church, trying to recruit more "Moonies" to the fold. He was born a Jew, & he told me he got involved in the church when he was invited to dinner & Moon himself "wined & dined him" to the cause.
"That would never have happened to me," I told him.
"How can you be so sure?" he asked me.
"Because I keep kosher! So I never would have accepted the invitation in the first place, & that would be that."
So the next time you start to waver in the face of this or that Halacha, just repeat to yourself, "Because I said so!"
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.
