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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
At the end of Parshat B'reishit, when the Torah says "…and his days shall be one hundred and twenty years", it does not imply that one cannot live longer, since we see that even after the flood there were people who lived more than 120 years. The actual meaning is that the world will continue to exist another one hundred and twenty years until the flood.
In any case, the age of 120 is considered – in Judaism and universally – the age of peak perfection, probably because Moshe Rabenu lived 120 years: "And Moshe was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye had not dimmed, nor had his vitality abated".
Why is it that Moshe, specifically, achieved this "age of maximal perfection"?
Why don't human beings live forever?
One reason may be that people must clear a space for those succeeding them. While they are still alive, the next generation's ability to function and progress is limited.
In our weekly portion of B'Ha'alotcha the Torah says about Moshe Rabenu: "Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more so than all men upon the face of the earth". Humility does not mean a lack of self-esteem. A truly humble person knows and realizes the value of what he is and does, but his aim is not personal success and achievement. His goal is the accomplishment and success of the mission. Therefore, he does not begrudge and is not jealous of others working towards the same goal. Quite the opposite, he is glad that the mission is advancing and succeeding! The paragon of true humility is one who knows how to give others a place.
Everyone should know how to give others a place, and do so, during their lifetime. However, the time comes when one must depart this world so others may have the opportunity to continue developing and improving the world.
Moshe was the most humble of all men. He did not encroach on anyone's territory, or tread on their toes. Rather, his attitude was: "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would bestow His spirit upon them" (Bamidbar 11, 29). Such a person can indeed remain alive "tuntil one hundred and twenty", since his presence in the world enables others, too, to continue to develop personally, and advance the world towards its perfection.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
