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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tavo
praising G-d for a myriad of blessings, & end our day by acknowledging our family, our safety & our country in the k’riat Shema al ha-mita (said in bed before retiring).
Rashi tells us that the offering of Bikurim, first-fruits, is a form of showing gratitude. That is why, as we are about to celebrate the bounty of our own land, we must first recall our journey from slavery to freedom, so we can marvel at just how far we have come to reach this point.
The farmer’s soliloquy begins: Arami oved avi; usually translated as, "An Aramean (Lavan) sought to destroy my father." Strange, isn’t it, to start off by mentioning Lavan? And then we reference Egypt no less than 3 times in this
short prayer. This, too, hints to another message that is imbedded in this text, one quite apropos for our time.
"Arami oved avi" can also mean, "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor (Yakov)." The Torah T’mima comments: "Normally, a nation conquers a land from a position of strength, from a power-base of its own. But the Jewish People were wanderers, not long out of slavery, with no country to fight from. And yet we managed to defeat 7 entrenched nations to take over Israel. What a miracle!"
Ancient Egypt was an Empire, massive & mighty. And yet, we humbled Egypt, & they vanished from the center stage of history. We, little Israel, would go on to eternal greatness while they would slip forever into the foggy footnotes of time. By invoking Egypt as a metaphor, we are saying to Hashem, "Thank you for giving us victory after victory, and for granting us immortality."
We emerged 72 years ago from the ashes of the Shoa, a battered & bruised nation, scattered around the world. On a mortal level, it appeared we were helpless, hopeless, defeated. And yet, against all odds, we founded the State
of Israel, united millions of Jews & won seven wars, B"H & kayn yirbu. Think of the nations surrounding us today: Iran, Turkey, Egypt. Each one was once a great power, a huge empire that ruled much of the ancient world: the
Persians, the Ottomans, the Pharaohs. But their massive empires dissolved, leaving them frustrated, pathetically only holding on to their delusions of grandeur.
And then they see Israel. This is the same Israel which they once ruled, doling out favors like a king to his vassals. But guess what? We are no longer vassals, subject to their whims & wishes. We stand upright, tall & proud. We, the wanderers, are the wonders of this world.
Thank you, Hashem!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.