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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Bereshit
This concept began at the dawn of time. While Hashem is a great & giving G-d, who created the world & everything in it for our benefit, it did not come condition-free. There was a qualifier attached: Man was placed in the Garden of Eden - & by extension, in the world at large - "L’Avda U’l’Shamra – To Serve & to Protect." (Note: this phrase is written on the side of every Chicago police car!).
The quid-pro-quo for receiving this wonderful treasure we call Earth is two-fold: We must serve Hashem & follow in His ways; and we must not only work the land (another interpretation of "L’Avda"), but also safeguard & protect it, as well as all those around us, from any harm.
Piety, devotion to G-d, communal responsibility, hard work & ecological awareness are the main mandates to Man which all wrapped up in this succinct, two-line command.
The tragic downfall of history’s "First Family," dramatically described in this week’s opening Sedra, stem from a failure to heed G-d’s warning. Adam & Chava do not follow Hashem’s instructions as to what may or may not be eaten; Kayin & Hevel argue over the land, & the end result is that Paradise Granted turns into Paradise Lost.
Where did it start to all break down?
In castigating Adam, G-d says (3:17): "Because you listened to the voice of your wife….." Presumably, this seemingly chauvinistic comment means that Adam’s sin was that he listened to Chava when she offered him the Etz Ha’Da’at, & did not object to her advances.
But hang on a second: Where do we see anywhere in the text that Chava spoke to Adam? Look for it; it’s simply not there!
Thomas Furst offers a brilliant idea: Where DO we see Chava speaking? It is when she converses with the snake, who convinces her that it’s absolutely OK to transgress G-d’s command. Says Hashem to Adam: "You listened to that conversation, you heard what Chava said, & yet you did nothing! You did not come to her rescue; you did not protect her from the snake’s evil counsel! For that, you must pay a heavy price."
The lesson should be clear to us: Be a good spouse, a good Jew, a good neighbor, citizen & person; and always protect all those around you from harm. That is the ticket back into Gan Eden.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
