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Beit Midrash
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Targum Yonatan says that it was the place of the Beit Hamikdash, and Rashi follows, saying that it was Mt. Moriah, about which the Torah writes earlier: "[Avraham] saw the makom from a distance." Chizkuni explains the words, "from the stones of the makom," from the stones of the altar on which Yitzchak was bound. Ba’al Haturim says that the mention of makom three times in one pasuk is a hint at the three times a year that the population would go for the regalim (pilgrim holidays). In contrast, the Rashbam and Radak say that this makom was a non-descript place.
Ibn Ezra reasons that since Yaakov named the site Beit El (Bereishit 28:19) and since Hashem told Yaakov upon return from Aram to make an altar in Beit El to the G-d who appeared to him when he was fleeing Eisav (Bereishit 35:1) that the makom was Beit El. Another indication is that, in alluding to the life of Yaakov, the prophet Hoshea (12:4-5) mentions Hashem speaking "to us" (Hoshea and Amos) in Beit El in a way that indicates that this was a place where He had spoken prominently in the past.
Let us try to put the Ibn Ezra’s approach in perspective. According to the Targum, Rashi, the Chizkuni, and the Ba’al Haturim, the Temple Mount was set aside as a special place of worship of Hashem already from the time of the forefathers. Ibn Ezra teaches us that even though Beit El, not Yerushalayim, was a central place at the time of the forefathers, once Yerushalayim was chosen at the time of David, all other places were disqualified from the service of sacrifices.
When Yeravam split from the House of David, even though David had been chosen for generations, Yeravam also disputed the choice of Yerushalayim as the center of service of Hashem. For that reason, he established an alternative site in, of all places, Beit El. The true prophets of the time came out strongly against this action of Yeravam, starting with the "man of G-d" who Chazal identified as Ido Hanavi (see Melachim I, ch. 12-13). Eliyahu later struggled against Chiel of Beit El, who was apparently a high-level "religious" leader in Beit El, who drew the people toward the service of the Ba’al (Melachim I, ch. 16-17). Amos also struggled with Amatzia of Beit El (see Amos 7:7-17). The aforementioned p’sukim in Hoshea connect between the history of Yaakov and the prominence of Beit El, which according to Ibn Ezra, was part of the criticism of the problematic religious establishment of Beit El.
Let us pray that the connection of all segments of our nation with Yerushalayim will grow and strengthen. Yerushalayim has the power to unify all of Am Yisrael.
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.
