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Gemara: [We continue with the story of the non-Jew who wanted to convert but only believed in the Written Law and not the Oral Law and was rejected by Shammai. Hillel converted him and then took upon himself to teach the convert to accept the Oral Law.] The first day he taught him the letters aleph, bet, gimmel, dalet. The next day he switched the order. The convert asked: "That is not what you taught me yesterday!" Hillel said: "Isn’t it so that you trusted me? Trust me also regarding the Oral Law."
Ein Ayah: The main reason for those who try to destroy the holy covenant surrounding the Oral Law is that they are blind to the absolute dependence of the Written Law on the Oral Law. Since they do not realize its importance, they do not see the truth of its transmission to Bnei Yisrael. If someone realizes that it is impossible to not have an Oral Law, then he is not susceptible to the mistake of doubting it. It would be folly to leave behind the traditions passed on through our fathers to make up our own system of scholarship.
This is why Hillel impressed upon the convert the critical need for a reliable tradition from previous generations, which is accepted by the nation as a whole. If you do not accept the tradition regarding something as basic as the letters of the alphabet, no one will be able to read and approach the Written Law. With the need for such traditions, it must be that, in general, tradition is needed to know how to arrive at Torah rulings, and one must not question the foundation of Oral Law.
Since nature requires that there be a known tradition, whoever denies it, denies nature. There must be some sort of connection that links generations. Even those who initially denied the tradition found themselves with so many doubts until they were forced to eventually accept tradition. That is why we apply to them the pasuk, "They left the source of fresh water (i.e., the reliable tradition within the community of Bnei Yisrael) to quarry for themselves broken water pits (i.e., alternative traditions)" (see Yirmiya 2;13).
The comparison between the Oral Law and the alphabet is very appropriate. Whichever version of the names of the alphabet one would choose, one cannot learn how to read without being exposed to a tradition that teaches the rules. The originally presented tradition is the authentic one. Once a person understands this, he will understand that there is no real alternative. Hashem must have given the Written Law along with a tradition. A person will find within himself to accept it, as Hillel urged the convert to do.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
