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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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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
