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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Behar
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Asher Ben Haim
1. The laws of shemitta, which forbid working the Land during that year, also mandate that all segments of society and the animals of the Land partake in eating the fruit that grows (Vayikra 25: 6-7).
2. In the yovel, all slaves are to return to their homes (ibid. 10-13).
3. In the context of the law of yovel that people return to the family plots that were sold, one must be careful to charge a fair price for the field (ibid. 23-24).
4. There are additional limitations on the sale of real estate, including the ability to "redeem" a field that was sold (ibid. 25-34).
5. It is prohibited to lend money with interest, "for I am Hashem, your G-d, Who took you out of Egypt" (ibid. 35-38).
6. One cannot overwork his eved ivri (servant) and must set him free after six years or in yovel "for they are My servants, whom I took out of Egypt, they shall not be sold the sale of slaves" (ibid. 39-46).
7. One should make efforts to redeem a relative who was sold as a slave to a non-Jew "for to Me are Bnei Yisrael servants. They are My servants, whom I took out of Egypt; I am Hashem, your G-d" (ibid. 47-55).
What is the common denominator between all of these different laws? In truth, all of these laws are connected to the concept of yovel. Yovel represents freedom. A free person has the right to make acquisitions and to have sovereignty over his body and his time. The laws of our parasha give legal, halachic weight to these concepts. Along with this freedom, stresses the Torah repeatedly, our ability to be free stems from the exodus from Egypt that Hashem performed for us with great miracles.
On this backdrop, let us review the aforementioned halachot. (1) Every seventh year the land is as if ownerless, as all have equal access to its produce, for indeed the Land always really belongs to Hashem. (2-4) There are limitations on the attempt to permanently take over another man’s property or body, because one person cannot negate the basic rights of another. (3-5) One must ensure that he accumulates wealth in a fair manner, and the wealthy or sly should not use his power to get rich through usury or trickery. (6-7) If our fellow man is forced to sell himself into slavery, we are required to take steps to protect his Divine form, which calls for him to be free as soon as possible.
Let us pray that the basic rights engendered in our parasha will be kept through the principle that only a servant of Hashem is fully free.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.