YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Vayakhel
Nisan, in particular Pesach, is supremely concerned with Time. The z’manim (times) of Pesach, from Bedikat Chametz through the end of Passover, are crucial to the Mitzvot and strictly observed. When can we begin our
search for Chametz? When is the last time to eat or own it on erev Pesach? When do we start our Seder? By when must we eat the Afikoman? How much time do I have to swallow the required amount of Matza? And that
most popular of all Seder questions: What time do we eat?!
The Hebrew word for "time" is z’man. It’s interesting to note three other Hebrew words with the very same root: "Hazmana", an invitation; "Zimun," the calling to order of a quorum in order to introduce Birkat HaMazon; and "Zamin," which means,"accessible," as in being reachable by cell phone (a must for every Israeli!).
What do these seemingly disparate derivatives of Zman, time, have in common?
I suggest the following: Time is one of G-d’s greatest gifts and one of humanity’s most precious commodities. It is invisible, yet it surrounds us at every moment. It is ephemeral, yet we cannot stop it or slow it, despite all our
mighty efforts. At times we waste it - even kill it! - but we will fight for every ounce of it when it is running short.
G-d gives each of us a certain supply of Time in this world. We are "called to order" in order to fulfill a holy mission, the essence of which is to cause G-d’s name to be revealed and revered. We will receive many invitations
from Hashem during our life-Time to justify our having been created, but we will only be able to answer the call if we are zamin, accessible at that precise moment.
Life, in many ways, is like a train. It runs on a schedule and if you miss it, you may wait a long time to catch that train again - if ever. So we must "train" ourselves accordingly to keep careful "track" of our valuable time; "engineering" our time so that we spend every minute of it wisely. For at the end of the day, Time will tell us what befell us.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
