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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ekev
"It is not because of your righteousness & uprightness of heart that you possess this Land; rather it is due to the utter wickedness of the nations surrounding you!"
All too often, events occur both in Israel & around the world which bring home just how despicable others can often be. A beautiful family gathers around its Shabbat table to celebrate the birth of a new baby, & they are savagely
attacked by a Palestinian terrorist. Congregants arrive at their shul in Miami, or Berlin, on a Shabbat morning, only to find the door painted over with swastikas. Mourners arrive at a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis only to find most of the tombstones toppled over or defaced. Pre-Shabbat shoppers come to a kosher supermarket in Paris to buy provisions, & are suddenly taken hostage & assaulted by Islamic hoodlums. And the list goes on & on….
We shake & shudder at these horrible events, & wonder why we seem to always be the favorite target of the criminals. No doubt, we have to examine our actions & engage in constant, continual Tikun & Teshuva. But there is a hidden blessing here, too: When all else fails, & our merits are less than exemplary, we still shine out in comparison to others around us. Yes, we have our failings; but we do not engage in the kind of atrocities that abound in the world at large. And that invokes Hashem’s mercy; He sees that, comparatively speaking, we are still a holy People.
The story is told - & I have personally experienced this! – about the rather unsavory character who passed away. The officiating rabbi upon called to give the eulogy was not familiar with the man, but his relatives were quick to "update" him. "He was thoroughly degenerate," they told the rabbi, "without a single redeeming quality! Now, don’t try to fabricate or embellish his life-story; just tell it like it is, or we’ll all be upset!"
The rabbi was at quite a loss as to what to do. Of course, he didn’t want to paint a false picture of the deceased – especially after that stern warning. But he also didn’t want to denigrate the man at such a fateful moment.
So what did he do? He walked up to the podium, looked out at the crowd, took a long look at the casket, and simply said, "His brother – was worse!"
Even in pointing out our faults, Moshe – our great defender till the end – is able to find an "escape clause," a merit in our favor that will somehow serve to keep us in G-d’s good graces – until we really deserve it.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
