YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayera
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
Avraham and Yitzhcak erected altars to Hashem (see Bereishit 13:3-4; ibid. 26:25), and Yaakov erected both an altar (ibid. 35:6) and a monument (ibid. 28:18).What is the idea of the tree that Avraham planted? A tree?! It sounds like an asheira (tree of idol worship), Heaven forbid!
Our surprise strengthens when we consider that the center that Avraham established in Be’er Sheva was a central part of his service of Hashem. For example, we see that after the Binding of Yitzchak in Jerusalem, Avraham returned to Be’er Sheva (ibid. 22:19). The Ramban (to Bereishit 23:2) explains that he did so because of that eshel. This is where he received the command to bring Yitzchak as a sacrifice, and this is where he thanked Hashem for the good outcome. We conclude that our forefathers used various tools to serve Hashem, including those that Hashem later commanded to discontinue. (See Devarim 16:21-22, which mentions consecutively the prohibition to use both a monument and a tree of worship.)
We will use this introduction to try to explain one of the hardest p’sukim in Yeshayahu (6:13). "And there will still be a tenth, and it will return and will be destroyed like an elah tree and an alon tree, which when it sheds its leaves (shalechet), its monument is in them, their holy seed is its monument." We cannot explain the whole pasuk (readers are invited to see Tzofnat Yeshayahu, p. 52-61). We will just point out that the pasuk mentions monuments and two trees: elah and alon. These, along with the eshel, are theophoric names – those which include hints at a divine name – as all these trees have the letters aleph and lamed in their short names.
What is the significance of these trees and what does the idea of shalechet represent? We will cite Rashi’s third explanation. There was a gate in Yerushalayim whose name was Shalechet and there stood an elah, an alon, and a monument. They were used for service of Hashem since the time of the forefathers, and perhaps they were already used from the time when Shem, the son of Noach was in Yerushalayim. By the time of Yeshayahu¸ the Torah had long ago forbidden using these trees in the service of Hashem. However, since at the time they were planted, they were used for Hashem in a permitted manner, it was forbidden to destroy them.
This pasuk compares between the Shalechet Gate trees and Bnei Yisrael. Just as the former are protected from destruction, in the merit of the forefathers who used them properly, even though there were subsequent people who used them improperly, so too Hashem protects the survival of Bnei Yisrael, which is founded in purity, because of our roots.
Let us pray that we will be able to find protection from all our enemies in the shade of the Divine Presence in the merit of our nation’s founders. Let us internalize this idea and strive jointly for a more elevated life of justice, truth, and spirituality.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.