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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
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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.
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
