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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
reaching the awesome moment of Matan Torah.
So, while the count is still continuing, let us try to answer two nagging questions about Sefira:
1) Why do we "count up? Would it not be more exciting to count down, & then "blast off" into Torah space? Haven’t we learned anything from NASA?
2) The pasuk, in last week’s sedra of Emor, clearly says: "And you shall count fifty days." And yet we don’t, do we? We stop at 49! What happened to 50?!
Let us try to answer both of these questions with one viewpoint that explains what Sefirat Ha-Omer is all about.
Rav Soloveichek notes the point-counterpoint between Pesach & the period of counting that immediately follows it. Pesach, he says, represents Perfection. Hashem intervened in history & performed countless miracles for us, in order to solve all our problems, to elevate us to dizzying heights. We saw more at the Splitting of the Sea than the greatest prophets ever saw. Chazal say: "Whatever you wish for on Pesach will be granted to you!"
But counting - as we do in the Omer - symbolizes imperfection! Because whatever number we are at today, tomorrow will be a bigger, greater number! (And that is why we count up, not down). If Pesach represents perfection, then Sefira symbolizes Man’s need to always strive to achieve more tomorrow than he did today, to reach ever closer to Hashem in holiness.
It is precisely the determination to not be content with our present state, to want more, to do more, to battle against stagnation & inertia, that ultimately defines spiritual greatness. In that sense, the Omer may be even greater than Pesach!
And that is why we never do come to the end of our counting; we never "cap off" & complete our ascension to Kedusha. 50 remains an elusive goal, the achievement "just beyond," to which we should always aspire. Like a candle, our Neshama is perpetually reaching upwards; the moment it fails to do so, it dies out.
This knowledge, that there are no limits, is precisely what moves us to try and reach those limits, to propel our souls higher & higher. To Infinity – and beyond!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
