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Beit Midrash
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If one is condemned for death by beit din, his corpse is to be hung, but thereafter he must be buried. The Torah warns about failure to do so with the words "and you shall not defile your Land that Hashem, your G-d, has given to you" (Devarim 21:22-23). This is referring to having the body hang for a short time (apparently as part of a process of atonement or warning to others). Even one who is convicted of the most severe crimes is due protection for his human dignity (in fact this is the source for the mitzva to bury the deceased, in general). The Torah teaches us that even such a person retains rights to respect that go along with being created in the image of Hashem.
The warning not to defile the Land arises only twice in the Torah. The other place is at the end of Sefer Bamidbar (Bamidbar 35:31-34). We are warned not to receive a bribe to spare a murderer of his punishment of death or even to switch his punishment to that of exile. The murderer’s remaining alive is a situation that spoils the Land. In some ways this counterweighs the commandment in our parasha. While one should not overdo the punishment to the murderer or other serious sinner and go as far as to disgrace him unnecessarily, we are also not to be overly forgiving. A murderer’s presence in society is a serious matter, and, of course, the murder itself certainly defiles the Land. Obviously, "lo tirtzach" is in the Ten Commandments, and it is one of the cardinal prohibitions for which one is to give his life rather than violate. Care in these matters is one of the foundation stones of the Torah of Israel. The Torah’s instructions go in both directions and form a balance of how to deal with the perpetration and the perpetrators of serious aveirot.
Another time when it is necessary to take a life is when the nation is involved in a just war. Here too, if one does not act forcefully when it is necessary, he is violating Torah law. On the other hand, this does not open the way to disgracing even unavoidable victims, and this too can potentially defile the Land. Specifically in these days, when the Middle East is full of groups of murderers who also grab corpses in order to use them for their purposes or defile them, we should remember that which we were commanded. While Hezbollah, ISIS, Hamas and others have no grasp of the idea of preserving human dignity, we should remember that we believe in it even in regard to our enemies. Baruch Hashem, the IDF is careful on these matters, even if there are cynical attempts to stain its and our reputation in these regards.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
