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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Achrei Mot
Great Tannaim disputed the answer to the questions of what prohibition the earlier p’sukim are discussing and how the two sets of p’sukim interact. The mishna in Chulin (15b) states that "we always slaughter," and the gemara (ibid. 16b-17a) tries to figure out the context of this statement. Rabba says that the author of this statement is Rabbi Yishmael, who said that during the period in the desert, it had been forbidden to slaughter an animal and eat it unless it was brought as a korban. Only when they entered Eretz Yisrael did this become permitted. Therefore, the mishna stressed that now it is always permitted.
Rav Yosef says that the change in procedure was regarding the practice of nechira, killing an animal not in the manner of halachic shechita. This had been permitted in the desert and was forbidden when they entered Eretz Yisrael. There had been some reason for conjecture that it would become permitted in a period of exile, and therefore the mishna states that it is always necessary to perform shechita.
According to Rabbi Yishmael, there was never a possibility to eat meat without shechita, and in the desert only in the process of bringing a korban, which is a demanding process, was it possible to eat meat. The reason (as explained by Rashi) it became permitted to eat without that exacting process was that it would have been too much to expect from people around the country (and in the diaspora) to be able to eat meat only after coming all the way to Yerushalayim. Certainly those who are inspired by the ideas of vegetarianism see themselves preferring Rabbi Yishmael’s approach.
According to Rabbi Akiva, shechita was originally necessary only in the context of a korban. The p’sukim in Vayikra deal with the prohibition of doing korban-like activities outside the Mikdash, and the pasuk in Devarim introduces the laws of shechita as applying to preparation for the eating of all meat. The Rambam (Shechita 4:17) accepts Rabbi Akiva’s approach, whereas the Ramban prefers Rabbi Yishmael’s approach.
Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva both agree that it is forbidden to bring a sacrifice outside the Mishkan/Mikdash. Unfortunately, despite this prohibition, during the course of centuries, many Jews did bring sacrifices throughout Eretz Yisrael on personal altars. In the future, we will discuss why it was so difficult to fight this practice, which was practiced even during the periods of righteous kings.
Let us pray that in our generation, the centrality of Yerushalayim will be strengthened in Israel specifically and throughout the Jewish world.
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.
