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Beit Midrash
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- Bereshit
- Vayishlach
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.
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.
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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.
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.