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Beit Midrash
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Rashi asks why it was necessary for the lamb to be held for 4 full days! One approach: This was an act of great courage, an "in-your-face" act of faith; as we boldly took the Egyptian god & openly slaughtered it, without fear of the Egyptians.
Rashi also quotes the navi Yechezkel: "I (G-d) passed over you. I saw that this was a time of loving; yet you were bare & naked." Hashem wanted to liberate us, but we lacked the Mitzvot that would give us sufficient merit. And so He gave us two "bloody" commandments:
the blood of Brit Mila & the blood of the Korban Pesach. With those "bloods" to our credit, we merited redemption.
Over the last few months – or is it the last many years?! – the Jewish People, particularly in Israel, has been confronted with fearsome challenges. Hardly a day goes by when we do not read about – or personally witness or even experience, G-d forbid – some outrage perpetrated upon us, simply because we are Jews. The latest "knife intifada," where barbaric Palestinians look to stab whoever they
may encounter, has been particularly unnerving.
Through it all, we have shown amazing bravery & steadfastness. Though there is blood - our blood – upon many of our door-posts, we do not capitulate or collapse; we go forward. Though we eat our sumptuous meals at times with "poor bread" or bitter herbs, we do not despair.
I suggest that we, at this juncture of our history, are within those very "four days of safeguarding." We are stockpiling Mitzvot in huge amounts, maintaining our morality, our dignity, our perseverance in the face of an immoral world that sees everything upside-down. A world, alas, that is not far removed from the depraved Egyptians.
But the moment of deliverance is near at hand; the banquet is coming, its aroma already fills the air like that lamb-roast of old. Soon there will be fulfilled the pasuk from Zecharya: "By virtue of the blood of your covenant I freed you from the pit." Our destiny will not be denied; we
have paid dearly for it. And so, as we declare at every Brit: "B’damayich chayi’i;" in our bloods we shall live. Eternally.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.