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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
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.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
