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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
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- Ekev
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
The Torah tells us that Hashem’s eyes are constantly (tamid) on the Land of Israel from the beginning of the year until year’s end (Devarim 11:12). On one hand, this seems to imply that nothing is ever set and permanent in Eretz Yisrael, that Hashem is constantly and actively involved in the produce of the Land. On the other hand, there are sources that several things are decided on Rosh Hashana, even in regard to Eretz Yisrael.
The gemara (Rosh Hashana 17b, alluded to by Rashi) brings a solution. The amount of rain, for example, is set exactly on Rosh Hashana and will not change whether we do teshuva during the year or spiritually deteriorate. What our actions and continuous Divine Providence affect is how these are apportioned. The same amount of rain falling at the right time (see 11:14) and the right place can bring prosperity, while the wrong combinations can bring little help or even devastating floods. One can understand the metaphor of Hashem’s eyes as not only determining whether we deserve good things or bad ones, but also of looking where to put the apportioned bounty. While this phenomenon can, in theory, occur anywhere, the Torah tells us that this type of providence is a trademark of Eretz Yisrael.
A few p’sukim later (11:15) the Torah tells of another blessing: "And you shall eat and be satiated". Rashi explains that one is not necessarily satiated strictly by the volume or even quality of a food. Rather, a bracha is sent to the food, within the digestive system, which allows the person to feel satiated. We now see that neither the quantity of rain nor even the food, which it helped grow, will determine whether a person is hungry or satiated.
I heard a beautiful idea on the parasha from Rav Zev Leff, which opens a third outlook. "A land where not out of deprivation shall you eat bread, nothing shall be missing from it" (8:9). He explains that even if one ends up eating simple bread and not some expensive delicacy, it need not be out of deprivation. Rather one can learn in Eretz Yisrael that, with all of the truly significant things to do here, you don’t need more than bread. In other words, with an improved set of priorities, a salary which wouldn’t normally seem sufficient to provide the "necessities of life," suddenly turns out to provide all the "real necessities of life".
As those of us who are blessed to live in Israel know, many of us don’t know exactly how we do it. Many happy families would not be here if they had worked out the numbers exactly. The more we close our eyes, the wider Hashem opens His, and that’s a good trade off. "Blessing is found only by something that is hidden [from] the eye" (Ta’anit 8b). The simple explanation is that human eyes are removed from the matter. We can say, homiletically, that the hidden blessings are a result of the Divine Eyes.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
