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Beit Midrash
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The Midrash (Shemot Rabba, Bo 18) reports that the angels Michael and Gavriel wanted to save Avram from the furnace, but Hashem argued with them, saying that since Avram was acting to glorify His name and not theirs, He should go Himself to save Avram. This open miracle strengthened the belief of many, who followed Avram’s leadership and joined a group of tens of thousands of monotheists (Rambam).
Why, at this point, would Avram go to the Land of Canaan of all places, as we would think that this was a place he should avoid? After all, Nimrod was a son of Kush, the oldest son of Cham, Noach’s wicked son (see Bereishit 10:6-8 and Divrei Hayamim I, I:8-10). Canaan was Cham’s younger son. Why would one "switch a cow with a donkey"? Why run away from a prominent son of Cham and go to the land of the descendants of the son of Cham who was a direct participant in his father’s great sin against his father, Noach? Note that Canaan’s involvement is the reason that Noach invoked the name of Canaan when cursing Cham (Bereishit 9:22-27). It was for rejecting Cham’s actions that Shem, Avram’s progenitor, was so rewarded (ibid.).
When we look at the results, we do not find, at that point in history, any significant results of Noach’s blessing and curse. The all-powerful strongman in the world was Nimrod, Cham’s grandson. Canaan’s family was firmly in control of the Promised Land. Their conquests were at the expense of Shem’s descendants, who should have been the blessed ones who inherited the Land (see Rashi to Bereishit 14:18, who talks of Malkitzedek (=Shem) as the theoretical king of the region but not the actual one).
Avram and his family decided to move to the Land of Canaan to support Malkitzedek. In other words, he decided to move the battleground of the spiritual fight against the heretics to the Land of Israel, which was still called the Land of Canaan. This was the beginning of a long struggle for the Land, for which the saying "The Land of Israel is acquired through pain" is very appropriate.
We have merited in our generation to take an active role in the mitzva to settle Eretz Yisrael. "The Land of Israel is pure and its mikvaot are pure" – it is a merit to turn the Land of Canaan into the Land of Israel. Let us pray that we will merit being the followers of Avraham Avinu in all aspects.
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)
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)
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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)
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)
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
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.
