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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!
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?
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.
