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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
searching for the dark cloud. The Gemara says: What is the definition of a faithless person? He who has bread in his basket yet still asks, "What will I eat tomorrow?"
Our sedra is popularly known as Parshat Ha-Mit’on’nim (or Ha-Mit’Lon’nim) the "Chapter of the Complainers." We grouse about the lack of fresh meat, the lack of water, about having left Egypt (it was such a Paradise?!); about the new sexual restrictions given at Sinai; even about the miraculous Mahn that fell at our doorstep daily and which contained virtually every taste within it. Later, Moshe himself would be the target of criticism – this time by his own brother and sister! Moshe becomes extremely despondent – even suicidal! (see 11:15) - and Hashem’s anger "flares like a fire."
But hang on, let’s backtrack for a moment. Before all this whining started, earlier in the sedra, the people lodge yet another complaint that engenders a markedly different response from both Moshe and the Almighty.
A group of people – either those who had carried Yosef’s casket out of Egypt, or had attended to an unburied corpse – had been prevented from offering the Pesach sacrifice in its proper time due to their being spiritually-impure (tamei). So they petition Moshe: "Why should we be diminished ("nigara") by having to miss out on this very special Mitzva given to all Israel!?"
Moshe reacts calmly: "Let’s hear what Hashem has to say on this." And G-d answers positively, by adding a new law and a new semi-holiday to Jewish life – Pesach Sheni. What is the difference between this complaint and the other?
The answer is clear. Hashem wants us to lead and live meaningful, satisfying lives. But that is not something we achieve through material means. Richer food, bigger houses, more and more "creature comforts" will not satisfy
our souls and validate our existence. And so when we complain about those kind of things, G-d is disappointed in us and clearly not pleased with our choice of priorities.
But when we speak out about the spiritual things being denied to us – Mitzvot, Torah learning, Chesed, etc. - that is constructive criticism, and strikes a responsive chord in Heaven. It moves G-d to help us in any way He can, and allows us to construct and to build a better – and truly richer - Jewish life.
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.
