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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Shmini
Parashat Shemini describes what could be considered the first day of the operations of the Mishkan, "the eighth day," following the seven days of miluim in which Moshe had been serving as the kohen. After Aharon offered several korbanot, the Torah writes: "Moshe and Aharon entered the Tent of Convocation, and they exited and blessed the people, and Hashem’s glory (k’vod Hashem) appeared before the entire nation. Fire came out from before Hashem and consumed on the altar the burnt offering and the fat …" (Vayikra 9:23-24).
What is "Hashem’s glory" that the fortunate people of that time merited experiencing? Prof. Nechama Leibowitz develops various possibilities by comparing this portion to the first time in the Torah the phrase comes up – in Parashat Beshalach in the context of the manna that fell for the first time in the desert. There the phrase actually comes up twice – once as a promise that the people would see Hashem’s glory in the morning, the time the manna fell (Shemot 16:7). It appears again when the people looked to the desert and "alas, Hashem’s glory was seen in the cloud" (ibid. 10). Rashi and the Ramban (ad loc.) both say that these same words refer to different phenomena. The former is that the great miracle of the falling of the manna, a unique creation, was a miracle that illustrated that Hashem was with the nation. The second was a manifestation of the Divine Presence. Where does our pasuk’s glory of Hashem fit into things?
The Rashbam connects our two p’sukim with Beshalach and says that the fire coming out of the heaven to consume the offerings was a unique miracle that showed the people that Hashem was with them. Thus, Hashem’s glory was the miracle. The Ramban (Bereishit 18:1) says that Hashem’s glory in our parasha is the ostensibly unnecessary appearance of the Divine Presence. Usually, Hashem appears to a holy person to communicate with him. However, when the Divine Presence appears just to reward a person or the nation with a sign of His presence without further communication, this is called Hashem’s glory. According to this, the Divine Presence was a palpable revelation of Hashem, whereas the consuming of the offerings was a miracle that showed that Hashem "appreciated" and accepted them.
The Ramban is consistent with his approach to the main point of the Mishkan/Beit Hamikdash. The Rambam (Sefer Hamitzvot, Aseh 20) says that the main idea is to provide a house for our service of Hashem. The Ramban (beginning of Parashat Teruma) develops the idea that the essence of the Mikdash is as a place where the Divine Presence dwells (see development in Minchat Asher, Vayikra 48). Thus, according to the Ramban, the sign of the success of the Mishkan, for which Moshe and the people had anxiously awaited (see Rashi, Vayikra 10:23), was the appearance of Hashem’s glory. The additional miracle of the consuming fire was a one-time extra. The other approach, which we can attribute to the Rashbam and Rambam (each from a different part of the equation) is that the raison d’etre of the Mishkan was to have sacrifices that evoked Divine acceptance. Thus, the fire that consumed the korbanot was the miracle that engendered Hashem’s glory.
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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.
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.