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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Yitro
Why was the Torah given in this fashion? Was Hashem's purpose to frighten us? After Matan Torah, in the portion of Yitro, Moshe tells the People: "…God has come in order to test you, and that His awe shall be upon you so that you shall not sin." This verse seems to indicate that the purpose was indeed to instill fear in Am Yisrael. We can interpret this "fear" in several ways:
1. Fear as literally understood.
2. Fear as in awe of Hashem, to cause Am Yisrael to sense the magnitude of the event, and thus to prepare them for the Revelation.
3. It is also possible that Am Yisrael's fear reflected the cosmic reality: Nature itself could not withstand the revelation of Hashem in the world. An upheaval transpired, and the thunder, lightning and fire were part of this change – "Mountains melted at the Presence of the Lord" (Judges ch. 5).
4. We would like to offer a different perspective. In the Torah, "fire" appears many times as burning, harmful, for example in the case of the two hundred and fifty followers of Korach, etc. However, we know that fire was also beneficial to Am Yisrael – as in the pillar of fire that lit the way in the desert and defended them from enemies. The acceptance of sacrificial offerings by Hashem was expressed by fire descending from the heavens. In The Song of Songs we encounter fire as a symbol of love: "Place me as a seal on thy heart…for love is as powerful as death…its sparks are sparks of fire, a flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot extinguish love, and rivers shall not drown it…"
5. "Fire" is a key word in the description of Matan Torah in Va'Etchanan – recurring seven times in the p'sukim there. Fire does indeed carry with it the danger of burning, and this was Am Yisrael's fear before the event. But afterwards, when the fire did not harm them – they realized that this was truly the fire of love – a warming, caressing fire! This is implied in what they said (ch. 5, verse 23): "For who is there of all flesh who have heard the voice of the Living G-d speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?"
A human being cannot reasonably be expected to survive such a fire! But Am Yisrael, Hashem's People, were warmed by it! Here, the great love between Hashem and the People of Israel was made crystal-clear – a love like fire, which even torrents of water cannot extinguish!
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
