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Beit Midrash
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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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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
