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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
It's become quite trendy as of late - what with the many natural disasters we’ve seen recently - to make all kinds of predictions of the planet’s demise & why all this turmoil is happening. But before you take out your "The World Will End In ___ Days" sign, remember: No one is a Prophet; no one has a "lock" on the Almighty. While there certainly are many wise people in the world, as well as special individuals whose Tefilot are powerful, & while the Bracha of a Tzadik (or any person, for that matter!) has merit, at the end of the day it is G-d who decides what will happen & when, based on considerations to which only He is privy.
If anyone tells you otherwise, & says he knows the future, or can can decide the course of natural, or supernatural events, get it in writing - & check your wallet to make sure that nothing is missing!
Yet still, in the Torah's perspective, there definitely IS a traceable connection between human behavior & events occurring in the physical world. Man's actions have a ripple effect on not just our Earth, but on the entire Universe!
Long before there was Katrina, Irma or Maria, there was a Great Flood which made all the other weather systems feel like a summer sprinkle. The Flood not only destroyed humanity, but changed the planet into a radically different
place. The Giants who once roamed the Earth disappeared; human beings no longer lived for centuries. Why?
The Soforno explains: The physical world reflects the actions of humanity. When we live morally-correct lives, when we perform Mitzvot, treat others with respect, battle against corruption & look to the welfare of the poor, widowed &
orphaned, the Earth responds in kind. It yields abundant produce & nurtures life, allowing people to live almost indefinitely. When the spirit flourishes, life expands.
But when we abuse our responsibilities & violate each other & the Land itself, G-d "rolls back" the good, green Earth & it falls far short of the perfect world it could be. Indeed, the Hebrew word, "Eretz" (land) is connected to "Ratz" (run), for Chazal say that the Earth unceasingly "runs" to do the bidding of the Almighty.
The Torah begins with the letter Bet & it ends with a Lamed; Tanach begins with a Vav & ends with a Lamed. These 4 letters unscramble to spell "Lulav." Why Lulav? A Lulav, say the Rabbis, has taste. It does?! Yes! In the end of days, when we will embody Torah & Tanach, Nature will reach its zenith, and the date palm will taste just like the date – both the trees and their fruit will be completely edible! The Earth will rise to an unprecedented level of abundant giving; it will serve – and not sink - its righteous inhabitants.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
