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Beit Midrash
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The question begs asking: how does it become known what the place that Hashem will choose is? There is an early hint in the story ofakeidat Yitzchak, which took place in the Land of Moriah. "Avraham called the place ‘Hashem will see,’ as it will be said today, ‘on themountain of Hashem it will be seen’" (Bereishit 22:14). This connection to Moriah is made explicitly only in Divrei Hayamim (II:3:1): "Shlomo began to build the House of Hashem in Yerushalayim on Mount Moriah."
Chazal informed us that Shmuel Hanavi, Shaul Hamelech, and especially David Hamelech worked very hard in trying to uncover the desired place (see, for example, Yalkut Shimoni, Parashat Shoftim 910). There is a mizmor of Tehillim (132:1-5) that deals with this attempt: "A song of the steps – Hashem, remember for David all his toil, that he swore to Hashem, vowed to the Powerful of Yaakov, lest I enter into the protection of my house, lest I go onto my bed, lest I give sleep to my eyes, dozing off to my eyelids, until I find a place for Hashem, a dwelling for the Powerful of Yaakov."
Rabbi Moshe Ibn Nachman, the Ramban, who renewed the community of Yerushalayim 750 years ago, taught us a fascinating idea about "the place that Hashem will choose." He says (Devarim 17:15) that any place in which Bnei Yisrael would have built a Beit Hamikdashwould have been proven to be the place that Hashem desired that they choose. In other words, the choice of Bnei Yisrael, along with its kings which the nation chose, would have been a revelation of the Divine Will on the matter. This, in effect, gives the nation a collective status of a prophet. Just as there have been individuals, who through hard work and an exhaustive process, have reached the level of closeness to Hashem to turn them into prophets, so too the nation as a collective had the special power to reveal the location of the place that Hashem chose.
Let us pray that we too will be able to reveal the will of Hashem in other matters as well, in the merit of our forefathers and those of all the generations that preceded us, along with the merit of unity and showing love without particular cause. Then shall we merit fulfilling all themitzvot that depend on the place that Hashem will choose.
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.