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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Yitro
This act of fleeing Paro – in essence distancing himself from the Egyptian holocaust – served Yitro quite well. He became a respected priest of Midian, acquired great wealth & prestige, & gained the most illustrious son-inlaw, Moshe Rabbeinu (a fact repeated over & over in the parsha). His reward, mida k’neged mida, was spectacular; it seems that running away was clearly a good move.
But TOO much of a good thing is often not very good at all. For later, when Moshe pleads with Yitro to stay & become part of the nascent nation about to enter Eretz Yisrael, Yitro (according to most sources) runs once more, returning to Midian, never to be heard from again.
His shot at eternal glory is gone; not only does his name vanish from history, the name "Yitro" rarely, if ever, is bestowed upon a Jewish child (Jethro Bodine of Beverly Hillbillies fame notwithstanding!).
Contrast this with Rut(h). She is implored by Naomi to run away, to distance herself from the Jewish nation. And yet, she stays put, refusing to leave. The result is that she has a privileged place in Jewish life, gives rise to David HaMelech and Moshiach, & can claim thousands of other "Ruths" named for her. All because she knew when not to run.
For 2000 years, Jews excelled in the art of running. We specifically chose businesses (diamonds, artisanry, banking, etc) that allowed us to flee when forced to do so, to pick up the pieces elsewhere & make a living. Thus we survived when our hosts turned against us, as they invariably do. So, for example, when the Shoa broke out, wise (and lucky!) Jews fled to far-flung "cities of refuge," like Cuba, Curacao, Bolivia, Shanghai. There they "set up shop" until the danger subsided, & they could return once again to "normal" life in more accommodating surroundings.
And that was fine, that was necessary. But we live in a new & blessed age. An age when Diaspora Jews no longer have to keep their suitcases packed & at the ready. Now there is only one place left to run – to Israel, a land that beckons to all Jews with open arms, a land
"watched over" vigilantly by G-d. Here, the race finally ends, & the "smart money" that stays, wins the race.
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.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
