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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
Let us try to uncover the disagreement based on the adjacent Torah account. After broad segments of the population complained to Moshe, Moshe turned to Hashem with the request to return his mandate: "I am not able, by myself, to bear the entire nation" (Bamidbar 11:14). Hashem suggested a solution to the problem: gather seventy men to serve as leaders to lighten the load on Moshe Rabbeinu (ibid. 16-17). As the story unfolds, seventy people presented themselves and were filled with the spirit of Hashem. Of them, two (Eldad and Meidad) prophesied publicly in a manner that upset Yehoshua, although Moshe calmed him down (ibid. 26-29). What was the content of their prophecy? The gemara (Sanhedrin 17a) reports that it was: "Moshe will die, and Yehoshua will bring Israel into the Land."
This claim raises a chronological issue, as the decree on Moshe not entering the Land, happened later, when Moshe hit the stone to bring forth water for the people to drink rather than speak to it (Bamidbar 20:7-13). The idea behind what Moshe had done was that he had returned the nation to the period when they were not led by speech, but by physical miracles (see more in Tzofnat Yeshayahu, pp. 198-208).
The gemara (Megilla 18a) famously says: "Mila b’sela, shtika b’trei," which we normally take to mean, that a word is worth a sela (a certain weight of a precious metal), but silence is worth twice as much. However, the Gra applies these words differently – to our topic. Had Moshe said a word (mila) to the rock (sela), the two (Eldad and Meidad) would have remained quiet and not have reported that Moshe would not be entering the Land (as he would have, if not for that sin).
Let us continue along these homiletical lines and point out that Moshe’s wife, Tzipora, was the first to perform "mila b’sela," as she circumcised their son with a rock (Shemot 4:26) and thereby saved Moshe’s life. This allowed him to return to Egypt, liberate the people from there, and present them with the Torah. He merited being the trusted interlocutor between Hashem and the people, and his words are the most firmly believed even in comparison to all the other prophets. Indeed, although Moshe made a mistake by hitting the rock, it is still forbidden to argue with Moshe. This applies to the simple people within the nation, at his time and throughout all the ages, and even to the greatest of leaders, such as Miriam and Aharon.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
