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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
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- Pkudei
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Simha bat Hana
Rashi explains the repetition of the word Mishkan with a play on words – "Mishkan," meaning Tabernacle, and "Mashkon," denoting a pledge given as security for a debt. He writes that the repetition alludes to the two Temples which were pledged by their destruction due to the sins of Israel.
Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin, in his commentary to the Torah "Oznayim la-Torah," explains the use of the word pledge in reference to the destruction of the two Temples by way of an analogy to the everyday world of commerce. When a person suffers a financial setback and finds himself unable to provide for his daily needs, he may react in various different ways. A person who has no hope for improvement will sell his possessions. However, one who is hopeful about the future will pledge his possessions and take loans, because he is confident that better times lay ahead of him and that he will be able to redeem his pledges.
The history of the Jewish people includes periods of spiritual wealth as well as periods of spiritual poverty. The latter led to Divine punishment, the loss of the Temple and exile from the land of Israel. But these losses are temporary. As stated by Rashi in Pekudei, they are pledges to be redeemed – speedily in our days – Amen.
Isaac Tarshansky , Har Homa , Jerusalem
Isaac Tarshansky served as a chaplain in the United States Army in 1955-57. He has lived in Israel since 1971, and worked as an engineer until retirement.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
