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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Vayakhel
Concerning King Shlomo’s building of the Beit Hamikdash, we find a few parallels. Shlomo himself was from the Tribe of Yehuda. His partner, who provided much technical help in the fields of craftsmanship, hailed (to an extent, at least, as we will see) from the Tribe of Dan. Actually, Shlomo had communicated about the upcoming project of constructing the Beit Hamikdash with Churam (elsewhere called Chiram), the King of Tzor (Tyre), who was a friend of David. King Churam sent Shlomo an expert craftsman, a resident of Tzor, who was also called Churam, who he introduced as the son of a woman from Dan and of a man from Tzor (Divrei Hayamim II, 2:10-13).
One who looks at the parallel sections of the respective job descriptions in Shemot and Divrei Hayamim (which is onerous in this forum) will see the similarities between the texts. However, we will highlight a difference between the two projects that seems to have had a practical impact on the building of the Beit Hamikdash.
Moshe received direct and specific instructions from Hashem for the building of the Mishkan, and the Torah stresses that everything was to be done precisely as Hashem showed him (Shemot 25:9). Chazal taught that Hashem showed Moshe "images of fire" for each of the vessels that were to be created (Menachot 29a). The idea of bringing Betzalel and Aholiav onto the staff was also explicitly mandated by Hashem. In contrast, the choice of the craftsman Chiram was initiated by the non-Jewish king, Chiram.
Even though the former was halachically Jewish, as his mother was Jewish, it is hard to ignore that apparently his father was non-Jewish and his name was that of gentile Tzorite. It is very likely that Chiram learned his architectural profession in the academies of Tzor and thus he was culturally and artistically influenced by that society of idol worship. Later on, in the periods of the kings of Israel, the Tzorian influence entered Israel, culminating in the Tzorian princesses who married kings of Judea and Israel. These influences wreaked spiritual havoc on the Jewish people, which eventually led to a destruction of the Beit Hamikdash itself.
Art and aesthetics of the physical world have a lot to add in uplifting people’s spirits. On the other hand, we should remember that they are always liable to cause spiritual deterioration and draw people to materialism. The Mishkan built by Moshe with the help of the G-d-fearing Betzalel and Aholiav, was a symbol for generations of how artistic work in the physical world can become part of the spiritual world. May we merit to learn from this positive example.
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.
