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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Nitzavim
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
The Torah seems to be telling us that success in proper service of Hashem is very easy. It’s close; it’s accessible; it’s within us. So why have so many of us, personally, and all of us, nationally, failed to reach the level that the Torah demands of us?
The gemara (Eruvin 54a) brings R. Yitzchak’s explanation of the last pasuk we quoted. It’s not that it is close to us and also in our mouth and our heart, all indications that Torah observance is easy. Rather R. Yitzchak tells us that it is close to us only when it is in our mouth and our heart. In other words, we have to do our part in order for spiritual success to be close to us.
Actually, the Torah does not say that teshuva or Torah is easy. It says that we do not require anyone to go to a distant place to bring it. It is accessible, but it requires skill to access it. The Me’am Loez illustrates this point with a parable. A king built a large tower and commanded one of his subjects to climb to its top. However, he locked all of the tower’s entrances. A wise man told the distraught subject as follows. "If the king told you to climb the tower, he must have given you the tools to do so. Use your head to figure out how to do it." The subject noticed a long ladder near the tower, with which he climbed into the tower and succeeded in his task. Indeed everything was close, but without the right approach, the job seemed undoable.
The gemara says that the mouth in the last pasuk refers to speaking the words of Torah. "... to do it" indicates that it is discussing practical mitzvot that need to be fulfilled. The order of the approach to the task is notable. Before one gets to "in your heart," one first needs to go through the mouth. In the first section of Shema, discussing love of Hashem, the Torah starts with the heart. Indeed, one can motivate himself to love Hashem directly through the heart. However, to be inspired to follow Hashem’s commandments, continuous study is a prerequisite.
So, as we use these crucial days to get closer to Hashem, we should realize that Hashem and his Torah are close. But we still need to plan our entrance to His palace and to obtain special "glasses" to see that which is right under our noses.
May we all find the inner strength to succeed individually and collectively and merit a successful new year.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.