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Beit Midrash
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- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
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The city Tirtza was located on the eastern slopes of the Shomron region, in the land of the Tribe of Menashe, from whom the sisters came. Yerovam ben Nevat, first king of the separatist Kingdom ofIsrael, made it his capital. How that decision came about is complicated.
Yerovam became king of the Ten Tribes in the historical capital of the Shomron, Shechem. Shechem was already an ancient city in the time of the Patriarchs, and Yaakov bought a plot of land there upon his return from Aram (Bereishit 33:19). Shechem is located on the border between the sections of the two sons of Yosef, Ephrayim and Menashe (see Yehoshua 17), as Yerushalayim is on the border of Yehuda and Binyamin. Shechem was prominent as the venue of the acceptance of the covenant upon entering Eretz Yisrael at the time of Yehoshua, an event with similarities to the acceptance of the Torah on Sinai (see Yehoshua 24: 24-25).
Along this backdrop, we can certainly understand the beginning of the following pasuk, but are left puzzled by its end: "Yerovam built Shechem on the Mountain of Ephrayim, and he settled there, and he left there and built Penuel" (Melachim I, 12:25). Why did Yerovam forsake his historical capital? Further study of Melachim shows that at the end of his reign, Yerovam built up another city to be his capital – Tirtza. We find this out indirectly. Yerovam’s son Avihu fell deathly ill. Yerovam sent his disguised wife to Achiya Hashiloni to find out his fate. The prophet knew her secret and told her that Avihu would die. As the queen returned to the palace – in Tirtza – the lad died (ibid. 14:17). Thus, the new capital, with the palace, was in Tirtza, as we continue to see over a significant period thereafter.
Prof. Yehuda Elitzur has an interesting theory to explain the chain of events. Upon founding the alternative Kingdom of Israel, Yerovam naturally turned to Shechem as the capital. However, soon thereafter, Paroh Shishak of Egypt came with demands on Yerovam to pay up forEgypt’s support of the Israelite rebels. He demanded of Yerovam to open war on his brethren from the Kingdom of Yehuda. When Yerovam refused to wage a fratricidal war, Shishak attacked him and destroyed tens of cities, including the capital Shechem. In need of refuge and a new capital, Yerovam built Penuel, in the relatively distant eastern bank of the Jordan, on the slopes of the Gilad. Only after many years did the Egyptian pressure subside, enabling him to set up his capital on the western side of Israel, in the Shomron. He made Tirtza his capital, which it remained until the days of Omri. Apparently, the merit of the matriarch of sorts – Tirtza – stood up for her in the form of the city that bore her name.
A year ago, our nation was exposed, under tragic circumstances, to modern day female role models of love of the land and the nation and of bravery, along with love for their children. Rachel Frankel, Bat Galim Sheyer, and Iris Yifrach taught a unity which will hopefully keep us away from the disunity that caused the split in the nation at the time of Yerovam.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
