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Beit Midrash
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Hana Bat Haim
Only the Tribes of Reuven and Gad are reported to have requested a portion of land in that region. They were initially met with Moshe’s sharply negative reaction, calling them "a culture of sinful people." How then was Menashe able to arrange things so smoothly? The Netziv posits that Moshe initiated the matter in order to try to strengthen the religious level of the settlement of the East Bank and that parts of the Tribe of Yehuda were also involved.
However, if we search for scriptual hints, we may be able to suggest a different, novel thesis. The Tribes of Reuven and Gad were relegated to the other side of the Jordan not just per their request. Rather, it was appropriate for them to be away from the rest of the tribes, because they were firstborn who were pushed off from using that status. Reuven was Leah’s firstborn, and Gad was Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant’s first. What about Menashe? Menashe was also pushed out of the status of firstborn, as Yaakov delegated special prominence to his younger brother, Ephrayim. Yet Mehashe did not just have the status of Yosef’s less prominent son. Rather, Yaakov had given the two of them a special status as his honorary sons, not grandsons. In that way, Menashe is not the firstborn of Yosef, meaning that he was pushed off, but a regular son of Yaakov. Since there are two ways to look at the matter, half of Menashe received a normal portion of land in Eretz Yisrael, and half received a portion among the pushed-off firstborns.
The idea of pushing off the firstborn who was not destined to have that status was known from the time of the forefathers. The only complaint against Reuven and Gad was that they did not wait for the Land’s capture and division along with the rest of the nation before claiming their portion. Bnei Menashe did not prematurely request their portion and, therefore, Moshe gave it to them without criticism.
Furthermore, it appears that the sons of Menashe, lead by Yair and Machir, treated this section of the East Bank as belonging to them from the time that Yosef was viceroy in Egypt. This is hinted at in our parasha. The pasuk says: "Yair ben Menashe went and took ... and called the Bashan on his name, Chavot Yair, to this very day" (Devarim 3:14). What does it mean, "to this very day"? After all these events seem to have happened in the time that Sefer Devarim was written. Yet the words imply that they happened long before. We may then assume (an idea that has other indications) that the parts of Menashe took areas of the east bank of the Jordan long before. It was thus natural that Moshe should assign those areas to these families as the nation prepared to enter the Land. (See Y. Kil’s introduction to Da’at Mikra of Divrei Hayamim).
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
