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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Beshalach
with one nation languishing in misery at the very bottom of the social ladder, and it ends with our elevation into the nation of miracles, marching out of Egypt "with hand held high," while Egypt falls from power and is ignominiously
humbled.
This sensational "reversal of fortune" is the touchstone of millions of inspiring stories since, where the oppressed, depressed underdog, against all odds, turns the tables and emerges victorious, as right heroically defeats might.
Let me pose a question: On the verse, "And there arose a new Paro who did not know Yosef," Rav and Shmuel differ; one says this was indeed a new king while the other says it was the same Pharoah, who he just acted as if he did not know Yosef (and his contributions to Egypt). Now, if we accept this second opinion - leaving aside the fact that Paro would be exceedingly old, considering the Jews were in slavery for 117 years! – a great difficulty emerges.
This Pharoah had originally treated the Jews so well: He made Yosef Viceroy, with vast powers; he gave the Jews their own cushy suburb in which to live, treating them as VIP’s; he even sent a royal entourage to accompany Yakov, Yosef’s father, to burial in Israel. He was the paradigm of a foreign leader who respected his Jewish citizens.
So why, how, could he have been so good to us, and then turn into such an anti-Semitic, sadistic monster?
Let me suggest - and this is not out of paranoia or reaction to any current events – that the Torah may be telling us that even in the best of scenarios, we need to be extremely wary of life in the Diaspora. Yes, it may seem idyllic at times, but under the surface, even the best Paro is precarious.
But there is another profound message here. Just as a seemingly ideal situation can deteriorate to disaster, so, too, can a dismal prognosis turn into a glorious outcome.
G-d wants us to know that He is Echad, He knows and sees all, past, present and future. He has things worked out to their appropriate conclusion. As long as we don’t walk out at halftime – as so many unlucky people did during the Super Bowl – we will surely enjoy the final score. When things get dicey in Israel, and events of the day start to get us down, we must gather our faith and believe that it will ultimately all be directed to the good.
Stay loyal to the cause; be a Patriot and you will always trump the opposition.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.