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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
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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.
