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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Ki Tisa
The command to count the nation is expressed as: "Ki Tisa et rosh Bnei Yisrael." Literally, "When you lift up the head of the nation." What a strange expression! What does it mean? Why not use the more common expression for counting, "Ki Tifkod?" And why do we say - no less than 4 times - that giving the half-shekel brings "kapara," atonement for the giver? How does that work?
Recently, we learned about the objects in the Mishkan. One of the most important of these is the Kaporet, the cover of the Aron/ark, from which the voice of Hashem emanated. "Kaporet" has the same exact root as "Kapara." The connection? A cover serves to protect. And just as the Kaporet "protected" the Luchot lying in the Aron, so the performance of Mitzvot – such as the giving of the half-shekel for communal offerings – "covers" & protects the giver, allowing him to "raise his head" in full confidence that, through his actions, he has elicited G-d’s favor & blessing.
As the saga of the Egel HaZahav begins, the nation miscounts & believes that Moshe was not coming down from Mt. Sinai with the Luchot. The pasuk there uses the unusual word, "Boshesh," usually translated as "delayed" but clearly implying a certain "busha," embarrassment or lack of faith in one's self. A vicious cycle thus begins: The people panick; they lose confidence in their ability to relate to Hashem without an intermediary – such as Moshe - & so they build a calf, the only "god" they had ever seen before, in Egypt.
When Moshe sees this, he says, "The nation is faruah," a word Rashi says means, "exposed." The people had lost their sense of self-worth & so they sinned; in doing so, their protective "cover" was now off. Only when they eventually repent, & regain Hashem’s favor, does the "cover" return & they are granted a new, second set of Luchot.
Perhaps this is the deeper significance behind the "mask" which Moshe wore at the end of the Sedra (which fits well for the day after Purim!). A mask is also a type of cover; Moshe may have been intimating to his people that as long as we "cover" ourselves in Mitzvot & acts of Chesed, we will be protected by Hashem & worthy of receiving the Torah.
Most of all, our Sedra emphasizes that when we are in consonance with the ways of Hashem, we can hold our heads up high – individually as well as among the nations of the world – confident that we will always be the beneficiaries of G-d’s mercies. And that is why we are certain of our eventual victory: While our terrorist enemies tend to wear masks, our masks will always triumph over theirs.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.