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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
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The parasha begins with mention of the death of two of Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu (Vayikra 10:2-6). Reams of paper have been used to analyze the cause of their death. We would like to add an insight as well.
Let us remember others whose sons died (or could have died) and look for connections. The Torah creates symmetry between the lives of two rival brothers, Yehuda and Yosef. Among other things, Yehuda, who, due to the sale of Yosef, caused his father to be shown Yosef’s cloak and had him asked "haker na … (do you recognize this as …)" (Bereishit 37:32), was himself shown an upsetting object and asked a similarly worded question (ibid. 38:25). And indeed, in a related manner to that story, two sons of Yehuda died at very young ages.
There were other major participants in the horrible sale: Reuven Shimon, and Levi. We may recall that in Sefer Bereishit, Reuven offered to have his two sons killed – if he did not succeed in returning Binyamin to his father, Yaakov, after bringing him down to Egypt by order of the disguised Yosef (Bereishit 42:37). Reuven understood the appropriateness of taking responsibility that if Binyamin would also disappear, he would shoulder responsibility in the form of two sons’ death. However, at the end, since Reuven came out against killing Yosef and he was not present when Yosef was sold, he escaped the fate of losing his sons. Levi, who was one of those who decided to kill Yosef and went along with the plan to sell him, paid the price in that two of his prominent great-grandchildren, Nadav and Avihu, were killed. Chazal indicated that there was a connection between Aharon’s participation in the Sin of the Golden Calf and the deaths of his sons, and we have indicated in the past that there are significant connections between that tragedy and the sale of Yosef. (We will discuss some other time the price that Shimon had to pay for his involvement.)
The selling of a brother, with its accompanying harming of the unity of the nation, can be the cause of serious divine displeasure. Unity and peace between siblings is beloved to Hashem and causes divine pleasure. We should mention the explanation of Chazal of the prophecy of Hoshea (4:17): "Ephrayim is connected to idols; leave him." They explain: "Great is peace, for when Israel were worshipping idols but there was peace between them, Hashem said that he does not want to harm them. In contrast, regarding when there is dispute, it says: ‘Their heart was split; now they will be blamed.’ Thus, peace is great, and dispute is despised" (Derech Eretz 7).
We should all try to internalize this idea, especially at the time of sefirat haomer, when we commemorate the death of the students of Rabbi Akiva, for not showing respect to each other. That historical event also ended the chance of Israeli independence in its Land, something that required almost two millennia to rectify.
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.
