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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
שמחה בת חנה
The Midrash Aggada says that since Yosef was a king and Yehuda was a king, it was proper to send one king before another. The Midrash Hagdol says that since Yehuda had started with the mitzva of approaching Yosef, when pleading for Binyamin’s life, he should continue the mitzva. These explanations put the stress on the encounter between Yehuda, head of the delegation, and Yosef, the delegation’s host. Midrash Rabba, cited by Rashi, seems to take a different approach. It says that Yehuda had a specific task, to set up an academy for the study and teaching of Torah. What this approach does not explain is the choice of Yehuda. Isn’t it Levi (Devarim 33:10) and Shimon (Rashi on Bereishit 49:7) who are in charge of Torah education?
There need not be a contradiction between the explanations we have cited. Yehuda represented the Jewish people’s leadership and the initiative to accomplish daunting tasks for mitzva’s sake. He was, therefore, called upon to prepare and build the school system, which may have been staffed by his brothers. For fundamental, not only technical reasons, it is crucial that lay leaders take an active role in building Torah institutions. Torah centers cannot be seen as secluded ivory towers, of interest to the spiritual elite alone. The Yehudas of the world need to demonstrate that their leadership begins by ensuring that Torah flourishes and that those efforts are the foundation for the rest of their leadership responsibilities.
But we have still not explained Yosef’s role in this effort. One can say that he just provided the governmental approval for the building sites, but I believe that the answer is deeper. Yehuda represented leadership in the more insular community that the family had known and would someday know again. But as they approached the challenge of building a Torah center in Egypt, which could teach the developing nation how to implement eternal truths in new environs, Yehuda had to draw inspiration and learn strategies of how to survive in Egypt from Yosef. Yosef, who was able to apply the teachings of his father, the shepherd, to the halachic and moral dilemmas he faced as the ruler of the ancient world’s superpower, was the perfect advisor to Yehuda. Yet, in the final analysis, it was Yehuda who carried out the work with Yosef’s blessing and tutelage.
This ancient "triple thread" of Yosef, Yehuda, and Levi demonstrates the multi-faceted challenges of developing and running a Torah institution according to the needs of the time and the place. May all of the modern-day implementers of this lesson be successful in their holy tasks.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
