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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Emor
Sfirat Ha’omer (the counting of the Omer) connects the holidays of Passover and Shavuot, thereby connecting the physical aspect of the exodus from Egypt and the spiritual aspect of receiving the Torah. The Rambam (Mor’e Nevochim, 3:43) speaks of the anticipation that builds up towards accepting the Torah, when one counts the days of the Omer. Rabbi Yosef "b’chor shor" further explains in depth using an allegory, whereby a slave is imprisoned and is promised by the king that he will be freed from prison within fifty days, and also receive the king’s home. The slave did not believe the king. Only upon being freed did the slave begin to count the fifty days, because only after he saw that the king fulfilled the first promise of freeing him from prison, could he believe that the second promise of granting the slave his home, would too be fulfilled. Similarly to this is the idea of Sefirat Hao’mer . Am Yisrael did not believe they would ever leave Egypt. Upon the exodus, they told themselves if the first promise of leaving Egypt was fulfilled, then we shall surely receive the Torah, the fulfillment of the second promise, and so they began counting.
The Zohar in our Parasha (Parasha Emor, 167) presents a different approach. The Zohar says that one who does not count the Omer days is impure and therefore is not entitled to be a part of the Torah. And, one who approaches Shavuot and is pure, always keeping track of the days counted, when the last night arrives, he must learn Torah and connect to it and preserve the pureness that is bestowed upon him, and thus he will be purified. The Zohar uses the word "tahor" (pure). The novel interpretation the Zohar presents is that the counting of the Omer is not only in anticipation, but rather a lengthly preparation towards receiving the Torah. Similar to this is the woman who counts the days to purity following menstruation.
A man prepares himself for his wedding, prepares for a family occasion. When a person does something of significance, he prepares himself for it. The preparation has two purposes: one is to know what has to be done on the occasion (technical preparations for a wedding) and two is to prepare one’sself mentally, spiritually. To elevate ourselves, from a regular daytoday manner of being to a more elevated, unique way of being.
Such a preparation can be seen in several instances throughout the Torah. Am Yisrael prepared themselves in the same way before the Lord revealed himself to them on Sinai (Exodus 19: 1011): "And the Lord said to Moses ‘go to the people and prepare them today and tomorrow, and they shall wash their garments: And they shall be prepared for the third day, for on the third day, the Lord will descend before the eyes of all the people upon Mount Sinai". Similarly so, the high priest prepares himself for the prayers and work on Yom Kippur (Masechet Yoma 1:1) and so we too prepare ourselves for the fiftieth day, The holiday of Shavuot, of the receiving of the Torah.
We hereby learn that the days of Sefirat Hao’mer connect Passover to Shavuot, connect the materialistic exodus to the spiritual elevation. This connection of time enables us to approach Shavuot with purity and wholeness. There is anticipation of the event and there is also a special preparation for receiving the Torah.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
