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Beit Midrash
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Yakov is troubled by the brothers’ action, though he never actually condemns the attack itself. He rather fears a retaliation by his neighbors, and questions if he could survive that. The brothers’ respond sharply but succinctly: "Shall we treat our sister as a harlot?!"
At the end of his life, when dispensing brachot, Yakov will criticize Shimon and Levi for what they did. Yet Hashem – from whom all blessings ultimately flow – repudiates Yakov’s words when (in parshat Ekev) He says about shevet Levi: "They have no specific portion in the Land, for Hashem is their portion!"
What is the basis for these two opposing views?
If Yakov is merely an individual, concerned solely for the immediate impact upon his present situation, then his reaction to these events is quite understandable. But if he is more than that - if he is the leader of a NATION - then Shechem’s act constitutes no less than an act of war, an affront not only to him, but to the entire Jewish people.
Earlier (32:8), the Torah confirms Yakov’s elevated status. Esav approaches and the pasuk says, "Yakov divided the nation that was with him." And that is also why the brothers say (34:7): "An outrage has happened in Israel; such a thing cannot be done!"
Dina was not just Yakov’s daughter; she was a princess of Israel. Attacking her was attacking all of Am Yisrael, no less than kidnapping and raping Queen Elizabeth would be a crime against all of England.
And that is how we must view terrorism. The killings in Paris were against the entirety of France and its pronounced world-view of "liberty, fraternity and brotherhood" – something that Islam abhors. Islamists are against all individual liberties - such as press, speech or religion; and they detest and reject brotherhood with "infidels." (Quick quiz: How many churches and synagogues are there in Saudi Arabia?!)
And when a Jew is struck, G-d forbid – in Israel or abroad – the attack is on the collective Jewish nation, on everything we stand for, and, in the final analysis, against G-d Himself. It threatens all of us; our way of life and our life itself. And so our reaction - and that of any country that wants to survive Islam's war on humanity - must be swift, merciless, widespread and uncompromising.
Vayishlach Did Yaakov Avinu bensch gomeil after surviving his encounter with Eisav?
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P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
