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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Passover - Pesach
- The Seder Night
The prophet Elisha (II Kings 4) was asked to help the wife of one of the prophets whose husband had died, and who was unable to pay her debts to her creditor, who now wanted to seize her two children as slaves:
Now a woman, of the wives of the disciples of the prophets, cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant, my husband, has died, and you know that your servant did fear the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children for himself as slaves." And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me what you have in the house." And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing at all in the house except a jug of oil."
Elisha asks the woman what she has in her house. Why is that important? Why does he not help her immediately? Furthermore, the Zohar states that if the woman had said that she had nothing at home, the miracle would not have happened. Why?
The Zohar explains that the prophet required a small amount of oil, because even a miracle needs to be ignited. What is the significance of this idea? One answer is that the Holy One, Blessed be He, does not want to perform miracles by producing something from nothing, and He prefers to maintain, to the greatest extent possible, the normal course of the world. That is why miracles take place only through objects that already exist. Alternatively, we can explain that God demands that a person must exert at least a small amount of effort, and only afterwards does He add His blessing.
We can offer yet another explanation. In order for God to extend His blessing, a person must recognize the good things that he already has. A person needs a jug of oil, small as it may be, for which he can be thankful. If a person does not succeed in seeing the good that he has, it is impossible to grant him an additional blessing, as he would be unable to appreciate it.
We live in a world of great wealth and abundance, thank God. However, sometimes even the most lavish meals are not enough to satisfy us. The Seder night is one of education. Each participant is challenged: do you want to be a free man? Know that there is absolutely nothing to which you are entitled. You need to work for everything, not just receive gifts, and, as a result, you will appreciate everything you receive! One who is unable to appreciate and be thankful for small things will not be entitled to receive anything, and certainly not great blessings.
The Seder night begins with the eating of karpas – a simple portion of vegetable. As is our custom today, this is a sprig that is even smaller than the size of an olive. However, after a full day of eating little and preparing a great deal, even such a small bit of vegetable has significance. We must learn to appreciate a sprig of karpas, even though it is such a small piece. Nothing we receive in the world is self–evident – we have to be thankful for everything!
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.