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Beit Midrash
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Moshe petitions the Almighty: "When I tell Bnei Yisrael that the G-d of our fathers has sent me, & they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ – what shall I tell them?"
And Hashem answers: "Say to them: ‘Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh; Ehyeh has sent me to you.’ "
And G-d continues: "Hashem, the G-d of your forefathers - the G-d of Avraham, the G-d of Yitzchak, the G-d of Yakov - has sent me to you. This is My name forever ("l’olam")."
So many questions jump out at us:
- What does "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" mean?
- Why, after using this name, does G-d tell Moshe to identify Him through the Avot?
- Why does He say, "the G-d of Avraham, the G-d of Yitzchak, the G-d of Yakov," rather than, ‘the G-d of Avraham, Yitzchak & Yakov?!"
- And the word, "l’olam" - which Rashi says means "hidden" - what is it exactly that G-d hiding from us?
So let us try to make some sense of this name-game; for we know that the essence of anyone or anything – including Hashem – is to be found in its (Hebrew) name.
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh means, literally, "I shall be what I shall be." One explanation of this cryptic statement is, "I was (‘haya’) with you in the past; I am with you in the present (‘hoveh’); and I shall be with you in the future (‘yih’yeh’)." That is, I am with you every step of the way.
But a deeper meaning of, "I will be what I will be" is, "I will do what I need to do, I will act as I see fit, I have My own plan for the Universe, I have My own timetable for action; & mortal man is not necessarily privy to it."
However, says Hashem, that does not mean that Man is helpless or useless. "Man is My partner, & he must do his part as well. He must act in tandem with Me to move the chains of history."
And this is the example set by each of the Avot – in their own way – who played a key role in our development as a nation by making dramatic - and often risky - moves to do what they felt needed to be done. Avraham, when he argued for S'Dom, or fought the Four Kings; Yitzchak, when he knowingly went along at the Akeida; or Yakov, when he acted to claim the birthright, or when he fought the angel. They had choices to make, & they made them.
In fact, it is precisely the fact that G-d is hidden, and "holds Himself back," that compels us to take the initiative & act decisively; for if we knew exactly what Hashem’s plan was, our power of free choice would be compromised; we would essentially be reduced to automatons, or slaves, robotically obeying the master. And that is not why Hashem created us; He wants us to do our share, and has faith in us that we will ultimately make the right decisions.
That is the operative message behind our national name, Yisrael. Actually, it is composed of two words: "Yashar-El:" Straight ahead (Yashar) to Redemption, with G-d (El) at our side."
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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.
