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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Lech Lecha
The Torah surprises us with a special mission for our forefather Abraham, without explaining why. By Noah, for example, the Torah explains "These are the offspring of Noah – Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with G-d". However, in regards to Abraham the Torah does not explain why he was chosen.
Nachmanides (Genesis 12:2) describes the difficulty:
Now in this section Scripture does not elaborate on the entire subject at hand. For what would be the reason that the Holy One, Blessed in He, would tell Abraham, "Leave your land and I will bestow upon you goodness, the likes of which have never before existed in the world," without first stating that Abraham served G-d or that he was a wholly righteous person?
Our Sages dealt with this difficulty, and as a result explain that another story happened before choosing Abraham. A few verses before Lech Lecha that Torah says (Genesis 11):
Terah took his son Abram, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of Abram his son, and they departed with them from Ur Kasdim to go to the land of Canann; they arrived at Haran and they settled there.
What happened in Ur Kasdim? Our Sages tell us the well-known Midrash about Abraham who saw his father’s idols and broke them, despite endangering his life, and as a result they threw him into the fire and he was saved.
Nachmanides (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 11:28) explains that Abraham was chosen as a result of this story and as a result of the trials that G-d tested him and Abraham withstood them all.
However, the Maharal (Netzach Yisrael 11) explains differently:
It is surprising that Scripture does not mention before this that Abraham was a righteous person…
However, according to what we said there is no difficulty… since this selection was not dependent on any merit, and therefore it cannot be voided.
The Maharal explains that the selection of the Nation of Israel is a Divine selection, and a Divine decision, Who chose Abraham and his descendants, and is not related to Abraham’s previous deeds. This is not an individual selection of Abraham, but a selection of the Nation of Israel; a selection of Abraham and his descendants. G-d decided that Abraham’s descendants are suitable to be His representatives in the world, G-d put in these descendants a special quality which gives them strengths that enable them to keep G-d’s commandments in the world. Therefore, even if Israel sins, they still have within them the special inner quality and they are still the chosen nation. G-d does not say why He chose Abraham, in order to teach us that this is a selection which is not dependant on anything, and even if G-d forbid the Nation of Israel does not act properly they still remain G-d’s nation (but of course, when Israel does not act properly it does not succeed in using its special strengths, and is punished for its deeds. But even in such a situation, it still remains G-d’s nation).
The Sfat Emet brings a new and surprising explanation:
"Go for yourself" is said by G-d to all people always…and Abraham heard and accepted.
The call of "Go for yourself" is always echoing in the world. Since the creation of the world, G-d proclaimed how to do His will in the world. Since the creation of the world, G-d proclaimed a mission of going out to repair the world with G-d’s kingship. Abraham was the one who was ready to implement G-d’s call. Abraham was the first to go after the "Go for yourself" and really worked with all his might to uphold G-d’s will in the world.
The call of "Go for yourself" echoes until today. G-d says His will, G-d gives us missions to achieve and do good in the world, to do kindness, to keep the commandments, to learn Torah, to fill the world with good. We need to listen to that call. Whoever knows how to listen will hear G-d’s voice calling "Go for yourself", and will know to continue working and benefiting the Nation of Israel and the whole world.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
