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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Shmot
This phrase, this sentiment, perfectly describes Miriam, one of the great - maybe the greatest heroine - of the entire Egyptian saga. Miriam - a midwife (along with her mother Yocheved) who saved the newborn Hebrew boys from
being murdered by Paro’s assassins - literally "saw the unborn" as she delivered those babies. And while Miriam doesn’t always get the same "hype" as her older brothers Ahron & Moshe, she was the initial catalyst for all the miracles that were to characterize this wondrous "birthing" of our nation.
The Medrash recounts how Miriam boldly stood up to her father Amram, who had urged his fellow Israelites to refrain from having more children. "Why subject these innocents to a cruel death?" he had preached to the community, while he himself separated from wife Yocheved in the process.
But Miriam castigated his actions: "You are worse than Paro!" she sternly preached. "Paro decreed only against the males, while you decree against all the children! Paro deprived the babies of life in this world, while you deprive them of life both in this word and the next!"
And so Amram relented & withdrew his decree. This led to the birth of Moshe, who would go on to lead the nation, & put a stop to all the atrocities of Paro. In Hashem’s mastery of sweet irony, Moshe would be raised – even pampered – by the very same people who had sought his demise, as the very water of the Nile that was to be his deathbed came to be his river of salvation & deliverance.
Miriam’s courageous act teaches us several crucial lessons in life: Never give in to prophecies of doom & gloom, never give up on our faith in the eternity of the Jewish People. Moreover, be extremely wary of "making cheshbonot," i.e. plotting the course of human events as you think it will turn out. Human vision is mortal, & so by its very nature is "short-sighted;" it cannot fathom all the unexpected twists & turns that history invariably takes, confounding the well-intentioned calculations of the prognosticators, who more than not completely misread the tea leaves.
Most of all, never, ever discount the "G-d factor" that presides just beyond the curtain, meticulously moving the players on stage & directing - if not producing - the action. Where logic & knowledge end, there Emuna takes over.
Miriam gazed into the darkness & saw the light of new life. And where there is Life, there is always Hope.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 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)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
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.
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(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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: 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)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
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
