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Beit Midrash
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One of those trials was the fact that all of the Matriarchs were barren (even Leah; it was only because she was unloved by Yakov that Hashem, as an act of chesed, "opened her womb" and blessed her with many children).
But what was the underlying, "cosmic" reason for Sara, Rivka, Rachel and Leah being initially unable to bear children?
The classic answer given by the Midrash is that "Hashem desires the conversations and prayers of the righteous." Because of their great struggle to give birth, and the intense anxiety it caused them, these women were moved to reach out to Hashem in powerful, plaintive pleas that reached all the way to the Heavens. This process of seeking G-d and appealing to His Mida of mercy invariably created a much stronger bond with the Almighty, which, when all is said & done, is what He desires from each one of us.
But Chazal offer another fascinating reason for the barrenness. You see, All four of these great women were the products of an idolatrous
environment. Sara was the daughter of Charan; Rivka the daughter of Betuel, and Leah & Rachel the daughters of Lavan. A less than auspicious yichus (genealogy), to be sure.
Now, in most cases, there is a genetic dynamic that works its way through the generations from grandparent to parent to child. Not only on the physical level, but moral, ethical and significant personality traits are also passed down & contribute towards shaping the latest product of the family.
But if this were to have been true in the case of the Matriarchs, their offspring would have had an automatic "handicap" - namely, their predecessors’ unsavory habits - that might have hindered their becoming the next leaders of Am Yisrael.
And, so, the genetic train was "derailed," and the women were made incapable of continuing the direct line of reproduction. Only after they prayed and "transformed" themselves – as prayer has the power to do – did they become "new" creations who could now bear children and
keep the line going, but in a much more pristine fashion. This, then, was the higher reason behind their initial failure to conceive.
One of the primary lessons which we can learn from this amazing idea is that lack of a "pedigree" is never an impediment to rising to greatness. While some people may, indeed, be the latest installment in a long chain of distinguished ancestors, others can create their own dynasties, starting with.....themselves! And sometimes, it is precisely these special individuals, who "come out of nowhere" – Resh
Lakish, Rabbi Akiva and Theodore Herzl are just three that come to mind – who show all the others the way to go.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
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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.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
