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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."
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.