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Beit Midrash
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Yaakov sends Yosef to his brothers
The brothers wish to kill ("send a hand") Yosef, but refrain from such action thanks to Reuven
Pharaoh sends for Yosef to bring him out of prison
Yaakov refuses to send Binyamin
Yosef insists they send Binyamin
Yosef sends his father wagons, filled with food and gifts
Yaakov sees the wagons sent by Yosef – and his spirit is revived
This is seemingly a natural occurrence. However, Yaakov prays to Hashem to ensure the success of the mission (Genesis 43, 14):
"And may the Almighty God grant you compassion before the man, and he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin…"
Subsequently, Yosef teaches us that this mission belongs to Hashem. Only He truly decides about the mission. Yosef emphasizes: "… you did not send me here, but God." Man believes that he is the one who is "sending", but Hashem really is in charge. (Genesis 45, 5/7/8):
"But now do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to preserve life that God sent me before you."
"And God sent me before you to make for you a remnant in the land, and to preserve [it] for you for a great deliverance."
"And now, you did not send me here, but God, and He made me a father to Pharaoh, a lord over all his household, and a ruler over the entire land of Egypt."
We see in Tehillim that Asaph added the name of Hashem to the name of Yosef, calling him Jehoseph:
"For the conductor, on the gittit, of Asaph." (Tehillim 81, 1)
"As a testimony for Jehoseph, He ordained it, when he went forth over the land of Egypt, [when] I understood a language that I had not known." (Tehillim 81, 6)
This appellation is eminently suited to Yosef. Yosef lives his life with an incredible sense of awareness of Hashem’s Providence. He taught Pharaoh: (Genesis 41, 16): "And Joseph replied to Pharaoh, saying, "Not I; God will give an answer [that will bring] peace to Pharaoh." Yosef taught Am Yisrael that, at the end of the day, the results we see in our world are not only due to human acts or a human mission, but rather to a Divine Mission. Yosef was amazingly always under Divine Providence, and Hashem’s blessings were apparent throughout his life.
Yosef is able to act independently, to act in conjunction with nature and to act within reality. At the same time, he never loses sight of Hashem’s presence and influence in all facets of his life. He is always cognizant of the fact that our mission is a Divine Mission – "you did not send me here, but God!"
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.
