YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Tanach
- Rut
The S’fat Emet (640) says we read Ruth on Shavuot to teach that concerning Torah, the study is not the main thing but action is (Avot 1:15). He continues: "By involvement in Torah, man’s spirit is fixed, and he can then fix his actions." Again, Ruth seems to not fit so well into the description, as her wonderful actions preceded her involvement in Torah.
How, indeed, did Ruth come to Judaism? The simple (and, I submit, the correct) reading of the p’sukim is that she was drawn to Naomi’s personality and wanted to follow her. The crux of the desire for conversion is included in Ruth’s speech of: "Where you shall go I shall go, and where you shall sleep I will sleep; your nation is my nation and your G-d is my G-d. Where you shall die, I will die, and there shall I be buried …" (Ruth 1:16-17). While this seem to indicate that the conversion was highly based on a personal connection to Naomi,Chazal (Yevamot 47b) saw in each element of these p’sukim an acceptance of a different set of halachot.
Based on the above, we will explain Ruth’s impetus for conversion as follows. Ruth viewed Naomi as an ideal human being – a kind, devoted woman with beautiful piety. Ruth was drawn to Naomi indeed, but not for her wit or her money (the latter, she no longer had), but by the Torah within Naomi, which Ruth understood was the source of her piety and refinement. Thus, when Ruth proclaimed she wanted to follow Naomi in her various stations in life, Chazal viewed it as an acceptance of the related Torah values that these engendered.
Now we can appreciate the similarity between Ruth’s conversion and that of Bnei Yisrael. Some (see Meshech Chochma, Devarim 33:4) explain that the mountain held over Bnei Yisrael’s head was not a physical threat but a powerful draw to Hashem that they could not overlook. To a great extent, that is what Ruth, with her special sensitivity, experienced vis-à-vis Naomi. When the Sefat Emet speaks of the Torah reflecting on the actions, it is not Ruth’s actions, at least not originally. Rather, Naomi’s actions were reflective of the Torah she absorbed. It was Naomi’s Torah actions, which were mirrored in Ruth’s image, that are the Torah of action that connects Megillat Ruth to Shavuot.
May we learn Torah in a way that improves our actions and improve our actions in a way that glorifies the Torah we learn and practice.
Parashat Hashavua Yerushalayim Was Not Divided Among the Tribes
[This dvar Torah was written last year, but is still timely.]
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
