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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Chukat
Our Sedra ends with a bizarre encounter between Og, the giant-warrior king of Bashan, & Moshe. Og has a fascinating history of survival: He was one of the Nefilim ("fallen angels," see Rashi BR: 14:13) who miraculously survived the flood by hanging onto the side of the Ark. Though his name ties for the shortest in all the Torah, he lived one of the longest lives – more than 500 years!
But why was Moshe so scared of Og? Moshe, too, was a fierce warrior, & he had just recently defeated the Cheshbon army, which was led by Sichon, another fearsome figure.
Rashi (21:34) explains that 500 years earlier, Og had done a favor for Avraham. In the battle of the 4 Kings vs. the 5 Kings (in Lech-Lecha), the city of S’dom had been captured, & with it, Avraham’s nephew Lot. Og, who had somehow survived that battle, too, came to Avraham to tell him of Lot’s fate. Avraham then joined the fight, turned the tide of the war, & rescued Lot. Moshe was afraid that the merit of this kindness done to Avraham would stand for Og & perhaps render him invincible. And so Hashem has to reassure Moshe that he would indeed emerge victorious.
Reasonable enough. But there is a tantalizing twist to this story: Rashi recounts that Og had a sinister, hidden agenda; he desired Sara – one of history’s most beautiful women (see Megila 15) - & hoped that Avraham would fall in battle, thus freeing Sara for him to take! So why give Og so much credit for breaking the news to Avraham?
The Torah is trying to teach us that every act of kindness, every favor that we do for another person – even if that act was done for a selfish reason - carries an immense reward & merit. Even if that act took place centuries ago, it will be "filed" in G-d’s eternal records & it will someday be recompensed in full or greater measure.
In August 1991, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was placed under house arrest in an abortive coup led by members of his own party. Three years prior, Gorbachev had surprisingly ushered in Glasnost ("openness") and eased restrictions of the USSR’s basic freedoms, allowing for the emigration for Soviet Jews. The first person to come see him was the late Elie Wiesel. Astonished, Gorbachev asked why he had come. Wiesel said simply, "We Jews never forget a goodness that is done for us."
And neither does Hashem. Never, ever.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
