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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
In this week’s haftara, we find the pasuk: "Your sons hurried (miharu banayich); your spoilers and destroyers have left you" (Yeshaya 49:17). Classical commentators struggled with the meaning of both parts of the pasuk and with the connection between the sections. We will cite several and, as is our practice, also make our own suggestion.
Rashi explains the beginning of the pasuk positively, as a prophecy of consolation that the exile will end soon, as sons will be quick to return. We then have to explain the end of the pasuk as the Ibn Ezra and Rashi’s student, Mahari Kra, do, that the return will be possible because our enemies who destroyed the Land (i.e., the Babylonians) were leaving it.
In contrast, Mahari MiTrani explains that it is not talking about the speed of the sons, but it is a derogatory reference to their hastiness to sin. Thus, the sons are the same sinful people to whom the second part of the pasuk refers to as "your destroyers."
The Radak and Abarbanel explain the pasuk positively, but in a different way. The destroyers will cease to be bad people, as they will repent, which will pave the way for the nation to merit redemption.
We can suggest a different approach, based on a broader look at the whole haftara [which we will have to ask our readers to look up or take our word about the context]. The section is discussing the miracle of the ingathering of exiles and the rebuilding of the Land, events that we have merited seeing in the last couple of generations.
In the Torah portion on tochecha (rebuke/warning), the people are foretold: "I will make the Land desolate; and your enemies who inhabit it will experience desolation" (Vayikra 26:32). This was good news for the nation, as until Bnei Yisrael started returning to the Land, there was desolation and almost no one lived there.
Let us suggest an explanation for our pasuk as follows, based on the above background. Bnei Yisrael are called to return quickly to their Land, which will be possible because the enemies had not succeeded in remaining there. They left, as the Torah had promised that when it would be time for the sons to return, the Land would be sparsely populated (see Sifra, Bechukotai 2:6).
The drash of our pasuk is that our biggest destroyers come from our own midst. May we pray that this never be the case, as destruction from within is the hardest to fix.
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.
