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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
Yet the very first pasuk in the Sedra is filled with several superlatives about Noach: He is called an "Ish," (read: Mentsch); Tamim ("Perfect!"); one "who walked with G-d" & above all, a Tzadik. Pretty high praise, if you ask me.
And there is yet another compliment neatly hidden away in this first verse – do you see it? The Parsha begins: "Eyleh toldot Noach, Noach…." Noach’s name is repeated! Say the Rabbis: Anytime a name is doubled in the Torah, it indicates a very exalted, elevated Neshama. Clearly, Noach is in very good company, as we see this same name-doubling by Avraham (BR 22:11), Yakov (46:2), Shmuel (Shmuel I, 3:10), among others.
The idea represented here, by a name being repeated, is that there are actually two of each of us: The person we are, & the person we could be, if we utilize all the strengths & gifts which Hashem gives us. Indeed, says the Zohar, when we die & face the Heavenly Tribunal, we’ll be shown two pictures, or videos: One of the life we lived, & one of the life we could have lived, with all its many accomplishments, if only we had fully realized all our awesome potential. When we view that second video, says the Zohar, our neshama lets out a scream that reverberates across the Heavens.
When a person’s name is doubled in Tanach, it indicates that his actual self reached the level of his potential self, that he reached his very highest level of accomplishment; high praise, indeed. Thus Noach is in very rarified territory.
The story is told about the Netziv (Rav Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin) who confessed one day to his students, in a Musar schmooze, that he was a very difficult child, constantly in trouble at school. One day he overheard his parents saying that they were considering pulling him out of Yeshiva & putting him into carpentry classes, to learn a skill. Crying, he begged for another chance; he then proceeded to mend his ways & became a great student, scholar & author of many great S’forim.
One of the boys listening asked the Netziv: "Rebbe, would it have been so very terrible if you became a carpenter?! After all, the world needs skilled carpenters to make furniture!"
The Netziv replied: "You’re right, of course.; it would not have been no disgrace if I learned a trade But I was afraid that when I reached the next world, the angels would hold up a copy of the Emek Davar & ask me, ‘Naftali, did you ever read this book?’ And I would answer, ‘No, I’ve never even seen that book!" And they would say, ‘That’s because you were supposed to write it! But you became a carpenter instead, & so it never was written and all of Jewish history was deprived of it!"
Hashem & the angels will someday ask each of us, "Did you fulfill your potential? Did you use the power I instilled in you? Which You were You?"
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
