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Beit Midrash
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Yet there is a famous Midrash in our Sedra that says G-d created many worlds before our own, destroying them, one at a time, until He finally arrived at this one. What a strange idea! Why would Hashem - who is All-seeing, All-knowing - create something imperfect that He
is ultimately destined to destroy? Why not just start with this world, and then go on from there?
I have an idea.
The first 3 major characters in the Torah: Adam, Noach and Avraham, all have something very interesting in common. All three of them saw their world destroyed before their very eyes, and had to create a whole new world, a whole new life, for themselves and their families.
Adam was banished from Gan Eden, from his pampered, personal Paradise where he did not have to work, where he was immortal, where no pain or struggle existed. Now, he would have to live by the sweat of his brow and subdue Earth’s elements in order to simply survive.
Noach watched as the whole world went down the drain. Every person, every place he had known was no more. He emerged from the Ark to a brand new world, and had to start over from scratch. (No wonder he went right out and planted a vineyard, so he could drown his sorrows!)
Avraham, too, was told to leave his land and home and begin anew "in the land I will show you." (Wisely, Hashem did not reveal to Avraham til later that he was making Aliya!) Life in Israel, as we know, is a whole new ballgame.
Now we can understand the Midrash! Hashem created and destroyed worlds in order to put this characteristic, this capability, this strength in the DNA of Am Yisrael. For we, too, have been destined to build worlds in virtually every corner of the planet - from Ur to Spain to Poland - only to see them destroyed in front of us and have to start again. Says G-d: If I could do it, then so can you!
And no wonder Bereisheit comes so close to Sukkot: For then, too, we build homes, only to dismantle them 8 days later! How many homes have we built on this Earth in the last 3000 years, only to pack them up and move on?
But IY"H, this pattern must come to an end. The homes we build in Israel are permanent, not temporary housing.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
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
