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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Sharing a Big Event with a Big Group
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 2:283)
Ein Ayah: One should always recognize the greatness of the community. This finds expression in that major events in his life will have greater significance if he can connect them to something that links the event to the community.
Therefore, if someone is saved in a special way that has a major impact on his life, he should not limit his reaction only to the people around him. As the event is momentous, it should be seen as connected to something big. That is done by doing something that is of use to many people. That is why Rabbi Shimon looked to institute something useful.
Avoiding Conflict between Different Successes
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 2:284)
Ein Ayah: When one matter of fulfillment emerges from another such matter, there is a natural expectation that the former turns into an independent entity to the extent that it infringes on the latter. As a point in case, when the body is developed, it brings with it a need for money to sustain it. At the end, the pursuit of money itself pushes away the pursuit of a healthy body. That is because one’s imagination leads him to the wrong impression that money is an independent value. As a result its pursuit can put a person under such stress that it weakens him.
Both a healthy body and a strong financial situation can be good foundations for a good spiritual level, which includes the ability to focus on Torah with a developed mind and an ethical state. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for each of these elements to act as an enemy of the other. Ethics can flounder when one does not sufficiently understand the desire to strengthen the body and expand one’s society, which is built on the presence of enough resources for life’s necessities.
Yaakov Avinu’s central goal was to show all that there is no element of completeness, whether the lofty or the corporal, that does not contribute to the whole when it is understood well. Certainly, they need not contradict each other. That is why Hashem blessed him with success so that he arrived in a complete manner, in body and in money. The two together aided him to have the internal goodness of being complete in his Torah. This was a great demonstration of how, using a path of justice and truth, all the positive levels can join together. Completeness in one area ruins completeness in a different area only when one lacks understanding of the value and purpose of each.
"Not like these is the portion of Yaakov, for He is the Creator of all, and Israel is the tribe of His portion; Hashem, Lord of Hosts is His Name" (Yirmiya 10:16). Hashem created so many types of celestial beings in His world, and they all do His wishes. From the joining together of all goodness, the broadest truth, which is a completely unblemished nature, is grasped. "Yaakov was an unblemished man, who sat in tents" (Bereishit 25:27). He looked with an eye of generosity and love on every element of goodness that he saw.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
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.
