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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Chukat
Edom and Moav actually share such "distinctions" as not letting Bnei Yisrael pass through their land on the way to Eretz Yisrael. Regarding Edom, this is explicit in our parasha, as Bnei Yisrael’s polite request was met by a harsh response (Bamidbar 20:14-18). Moav’s similar response is found in Sefer Shoftim (11:17). Yet, Amos takes Moav to task not for their treatment of Israel, but for their treatment of Edom. We will now provide some background to understand what the issues were.
In Melachim II, 3 we are told that in the aftermath of King Achav’s fall at the hands of the Aramim, the Moavim stopped paying taxes to the Kingdom of Israel. Yehoram, Achav’s son, a cousin of Yehoshafat, King of Yehuda, went to battle against Moav, and Yehoshafat enlisted his vassal, the King of Edom. The last battle of this war took place by the walls of the capital city of Moav, Kir, which was besieged by Israel, Yehuda, and Edom. The King of Moav tried to break the siege by attacking its weakest link, Edom. "He took 700 men with swords to break through to the King of Edom, and they were not able to" (ibid. 26).
Then, it says: "He took his firstborn son, who was to rule after him, and brought him as a sacrifice on the wall" (ibid. 27). The Radak explains that the King of Moav was able to get hold of the son of the King of Edom and, as revenge, killed the son of the King of Edom. As a result, in anger, the King of Edom left the battle, and the kings of Israel and Yehuda were not successful, as the pasuk says: "There was great anger on Israel and they traveled away from him and returned to the Land" (ibid.). This, of course, explains the sin that Moav carried out against Edom.
Chazal explained differently. In his despair, the King of Moav sacrificed his own son in the form of the avoda zara of Molech. This caused great anger against Bnei Yisrael in the Heaven, which is what broke up the coalition against Moav. The logic behind Hashem’s anger is that Bnei Yisrael chose to learn the abominations of the nations around them (such as Molech), as opposed to learning from some of their better practices (see Yalkut Shimoni, Melachim II 226).
Israel can be like the stars of the heaven and reach the highest spiritual levels. However, at times, we deteriorate to such a low level as to be leaders in deficiency. Any idol worship is lowly, but slaughtering children to the idol is lowly among lowly. When the Moavites reached that low level and slaughtered their crown price, all the Jewish children who had been slaughtered under similar circumstances to the Molech formed a "panel of critics" against the kings’ effort and caused its failure.
Let us pray that we will be like the stars, whether numerically or qualitatively/spiritually.
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.
