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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Sukkot
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
"And you shall observe the Festival of Sukkot for seven days...and you shall rejoice in your Festival...indeed, you shall be nothing but joyful (Deuteronomy 16:13-15)."
What is simcha? Is it merely the emotion of happiness and joy?
A reading of Sefer Devarim would have us believe that it is far more. The Torah instructs us that there are two requisite conditions for ultimate simcha.
The first is sham or shammah - there.
In every instance (except in the one time that it that has nothing to do with the holidays) the term simcha is either preceeded or followed by a form of the word Sham.
Furthermore the term sham is defined either as "before the Lord your God" or as the "place that there the Lord shall choose to rest His Name." Clearly all these references point to Jerusalem.
The second indispensable condition is the inclusion of "you, your son and daughter, your servant and maid-servant, the Levite and the convert, the orphan and the widow... (ibid) ".
Thus the Torah teaches that true simcha can only be achieved in Jerusalem and even there only when you are surrounded by your brethren from all walks of life, from the lofty Levite the bearer of Jewish tradition to the simple handmaid and lonely orphan.
Given these parameters, I would suggest that the Biblical Vesamachta goes far beyond simple joy. Rather it is the excitement and the emotional high that comes with the sudden understanding of what it means to be a Jew. It is the reaching of new heights of self-value with the realization of being part of this glorious nation. It is the burst of fresh commitment to the service of the Almighty, the God of Israel.
The significance of Vesamachta is as cogent today as it was then. One has only to witness the results of a program such as Birthright to realize the powerful force that Jerusalem and the people of Israel exert on young people who have had little contact with Judaism.
Parents in the Diaspora who wish to inculcate strong emotions of Jewish self-worth in their children would be wise to shower them with this kind of simcha.
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This is a weekly column contributed by Aloh Naaleh an organization devoted to motivating Jews to make Aliya.
Aloh Na'aleh POB 4337, Jerusalem 91042
Tel: 972-2-566-1181 ext. 320 ~ Fax: 972-2-566-1186
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Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
