YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Bereshit
From the very beginning, Hashem is informing us that words have power – to create, yet also to destroy. G-d’s greatest creation – Man – is distinguished primarily by his unique ability to speak, to use words, & to thereby connect to other human beings via the power of speech. Though we are continually cautioned to guard our words & use them wisely, it is often the inability or unwillingness to speak which leads us into very dark places. Two vivid examples of this cry out to us from the story of Gan Eden.
When Chava eats from the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, she starts a chain-reaction of Shame & Blame culminating in the first family’s expulsion from Paradise. But G-d’s castigation of Adam – "Because you listened to the voice of your
wife & ate of the tree…." is quite strange: Where, exactly, do we see Chava speaking to Adam? Nowhere does the text record discussion between them!
True, but Chava did speak to the snake, when they discussed whether it was proper to eat from the Etz HaDa’at. It was then that Adam heard her voice, listened to the conversation, & yet did nothing! THAT was his sin! He should have spoken up & warned Chava, he should have protected her from sinning; for that, he deserved to be punished.
Fast-forward now a bit to the epochal story of Kayin & Hevel – the ultimate account of sibling rivalry. When Kayin’s offering is spurned by Hashem - yet Hevel’s accepted - Kayin reacts violently & murders his brother. But note the text’s account of the brother’s confrontation:
"And Kayin said to his brother Hevel; & it was when they were in the field, Kayin rose up against Hevel his brother & killed him."
You see what’s missing here? Whatever Kayin may have said to Hevel, we don’t know; but Hevel never answered him! Not once, but twice, Kayin calls Hevel "his brother." Clearly, a distraught & dejected Kayin sought some support, some words of comfort from his sibling, but he got nothing! This may well have been what pushed him "over the edge" to commit the greatest murder in human history – a full 25% of the population!
While Hevel’s silence certainly does not justify Kayin’s crime, we see from here how devastating silence can be, & how therapeutic the right words at the right time can be. There are times, to be sure, when talk is cheap, & silence is golden; but there are also times when it is just the opposite. May G-d help us distinguish between the two.
Parashat Hashavua The Strength of His Actions He Told to His Nation
Harav Shaul Yisraeli – from Siach Shaul, pp. 6-8
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
