Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: The purpose of the existence of the nations is physical matters. They are to be viewed as guilds of partners to obtain matters they enjoy or need. Therefore, love of the nation is justified only when individuals and their families receive a return for their efforts. It is like wild animals banding together in the face of joint danger or to catch game together. For them, when one speaks of family in the time of war, it makes them more diligent. For that reason, women would come to the front and participate with their husbands.
Bnei Yisrael are different in this regard. The nation’s purpose, from the perspective of their souls and lifestyle, revolves around sanctity and the spirit of Hashem that is upon them. This is the greatest treasure of the individual and the nation as a whole, and it gives power and glory to the family. Therefore, compared to efforts for the nation, love of family is dwarfed and is not allowed to detract from love of the nation.
For this reason, when going to war, an individual’s hopes were not on private factors of success upon return from battle. One would view himself as giving up hope for his personal life and being happy to die as a brave and holy man in a divine war to raise the national banner. Therefore, he would write a get for his wife to weaken thoughts about family ties in favor of a path of interest for the higher, holy needs of the nation. This is a harsh rebuke, reminding one that when dealing with the national, he should forget his personal interests.
It was thus the will of G-d that it was possible to marry those whose husbands gave a get under these circumstances. As painful as that circumstance was, it was part of the important effort to increase the proper holy outlook of men who went out to save Hashem’s nation.
The National Inheritance of Good Traits
Various Rabbis | 5770
Continuing the Gains of the Victory over the Greeks
Various Rabbis | Kislev 26 5777
The Elusive Inheritance of Personality Traits
Various Rabbis | 5769
Extreme Physicality and Extreme Spirituality
condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 9:225
Various Rabbis | 23 Tevet 5773
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Av 5785
Status of Child of Woman Who Had Civil Marriage
5770
Four Prototypes of Service of Hashem
5774
