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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
There is a very deep connection between Moshe and Eliyahu, who were each the central prophets of their era. (In Eliyahu’s case, according to the midrash that he was Pinchas, he continued from the time of Moshe for hundreds of years.) It is appropriate that the last prophecy in Nevi’im connects them: "Remember the Torah of Moshe … I am sending you Eliyahu Hanavi …" (Malachi 3:22-23). Each of them had a revelation at Har Chorev, did not eat for 40 days and nights, and disappeared in a manner that there was no known burial place. Each left behind a disciple, whose names were basically synonymous (Yehoshua=Elisha). Yehoshua entered the land and first conquered Yericho and decreed that Jews should not live there; Elisha fixed the water in Yericho soon after Eliyahu’s death and enabled people to live there.
When Elisha left Yericho, he was approached by "small youngsters" who said to him, "Come, kere’ach (bald one), come, kere’ach" (Melachim II, 2:23). In Tzofnat Eliyahu, I explained that these were not youngsters in age, but they were men who lost their prophetic abilities when Eliyahu died. They were denying that Elisha inherited Eliyahu’s role by highlighting that Eliyahu had a lot of hair and Elisha was bald.
Is the linguistic similarity between Korach and kere’ach just a coincidence? Notice that there are other linguistic overlaps between the stories. The splitting open of the ground to devour Korach is described by the root bako, as is the killing (by bears) of the 42 "children" who mocked Elisha.
Eliyahu was connected to the rebuilding of Yericho in the following way. The navi tells that Chiel built Yericho and "paid for it" by his firstborn Aviram dying when he placed its foundations and his younger son Seguv dying when he erected its doors. This is followed by Eliyahu declaring that there would not be any rain in the Land without his approval (Melachim I, 16:34-17:1). Aviram was one of the leaders of Korach’s rebels.
Chazal’s expounding on these stories furthers the connections. Korach attacked Moshe by asking sets of questions which highlighted how the Torah defies normal logic (tzitzit for a tallit full of techelet; mezuza for a house full of sefarim). Achav used similar logic. Achav came to visit Chiel after his sons died and denied that their death had anything to do with Yehoshua’s curse. Achav made a logical claim. If Moshe’s curse of no rain if people leave Hashem did not work, as Achav led the people to idolatry and rain continued. Thus, certainly his disciple’s curse against builders of Yericho would not work. Eliyahu responded by invoking a drought, as Achav basically dared Hashem to do.
We thus have seen many similarities between Moshe and his disciple and Eliyahu and his, the opponents of each, and the root kere’ach. Each opponent questioned the prophetic legacy of one of the great prophets of all time.
May we merit the return of the prophecy and the mission of Eliyahu Hanavi.
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.
