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Beit Midrash
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Yaakov’s lot was the most tragic of the forefathers. We do not mean in that he suffered torment, but in the fact that his characteristics are most negatively distorted. In truth, Eisav was the one who knew to hunt (Bereishit 25:27), which means to mislead (Rashi, ad loc.) and was the creator of doubletalk, and Yaakov was an unblemished man who did not know how to mislead (ibid.; ibid.). However, in regard to the explicit actions that they took, it appears as if it is Yaakov who is the hypocrite. Eisav seems to have received whatever he needed in life without difficulty, whereas Yaakov had to get what he needed/wanted indirectly and through deception. The one who hated deceit was portrayed as circumspect, as Eisav claims that Yaakov’s very name indicates (Bereishit 27:36). Eisav was not willing to admit that Yaakov’s name meant something else, that he held Eisav’s ankle (akev, which can mean heel or trickery), indicating that it was Eisav who improperly had claimed the firstborn status.
It takes a serious amount of proper self-confidence in order to overcome fundamental characteristics. It is much easier to fight when you know what you are fighting for. When Avraham was thrown into the furnace, he knew that he was thereby doing an act of sanctification of Hashem’s name. It is greater, though, for Yaakov to buy a firstborn status that Eisav did not deserve even though he knew that it would cause him to be besmirched as unethical and antisocial. One needs a self-confidence of "He raised his heart in the ways of Hashem" (Divrei Hayamim II, 17:6), which reduces to nothingness the empty showiness and hypocrisy of someone like Eisav, in order to prevent catastrophe.
"If Your Torah had not been my delight, I would have then been lost in my despair" (Tehillim 119:92). We should not lose our self-control and the realization of our high status in our world (see Bereishit Rabba 63:7). We possess the true foundations of justice, whereas Eisav is haughty about his strong kingdom, which is one of domination and hypocrisy that covers up for its murders and abominations. Eisav’s nation may try to show itself as pretty and pleasant, and claim that our set of ethics are his. He may ask his father: "How do we take tithes on salt?" (see Rashi, Bereishit 25:27). At the end (not yet – Zohar, Ki Tisa), the truth will emerge, and the kingdom of the world of truth will be founded. It is a kingdom of the "hand that holds Eisav’s heel" and smashes all dishonesty.
Shoftim Can a Sheitel be Prohibited Because of Avodah Zarah?
A Background Discussion about the use of Indian Hair
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.
