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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Pinchas
We have seen this idea in various forms in the previous parshiyot. Bilam reacted enthusiastically: "How good are your tents, Yaakov, your dwelling places (mishkenotecha), Israel" (Bamidbar 24:5). When you live in a tent in sanctity and purity, it turns into a mishkan. In the opposite direction, the sins of Bnei Yisrael with the Daughters of Moav, which led to the idolatry with Baal Peor, symbolize where improper relations can lead.
We will try to suggest a new explanation for the rebuke that Uriya (the husband of Bat Sheva) gave to David through hints that he gave. David tried repeatedly to get Uriya to go home, and Uriya responded strongly although carefully (to avoid rebelling against the king): "The aron and Israel and Yehuda are sitting in Sukkot" (Shmuel II, 11:11). The Yerushalmi (Sota 8:3) asks: Wasn’t the aron in Zion. It answers that the aron was in a sukka (a temporary dwelling).
According to Chazal, Uriya was not talking about the aron’s geographic location but its spiritual situation. He was hinting that David’s actions had banished the shechina and perhaps even delayed the building of the Beit Hamikdash, which would have allowed the aron to be entered into its permanent home in its Kodesh Kodashim. This is because the aron symbolizes the dwelling of the shechina.
The book within a book of "Vayehi binsoa ha’aron," talking about the aron, teaches that when Bnei Yisrael preserve the sanctity of the encampment, they will be successful against their enemies. The keruvim that are on top of the aron, symbolize the dwelling of the shechina. When the two figures are facing each other it is a sign that Israel is fulfilling the will of Hashem (Bava Batra 99a). This loving stance between the figures also hints at the idea that with proper relationships between spouses, the shechina is found.
Returning to Uriya, after he mentioned the state of the aron, he mentioned that Israel and Yehuda were also in Sukkot. This was a further hint at the dwelling of the shechina. We know that the sukka creates a situation of living in the "shade of Hashem," in the clouds of glory. There was such a cloud not only in the desert but over the tent of Sarah, the matriarch who "gave up" a yud in her name in favor of a heh. These two letters are the difference between the Hebrew words for man and woman and join together to form Hashem’s Name. Uriya strongly sent the message to David that his actions with Bat Sheva had done the opposite of bringing sanctity to the encampment, and it would not bode well for the building of the Beit Hamikdash. At that time, David was not yet ready to internalize the message.
May we merit more and more Jewish families with the proper "cloud" over their homes. Each one will bring us a step closer to the time that we will openly sense the shechina in the "place that Hashem chose."
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.
