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Beit Midrash
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Why do the angels first ascend, then descend? It should be the opposite: Angels come from Heaven; they should come down & THEN go up! Why does the Pasuk begin: "Vayifga Bamakom;" (and he encountered the place)? Vayifga" is an unusual, negative term (as in the word "nifga," wounded). And why does G-d identify Himself as "Elokei Avraham Avicha," the G-d of Avraham your father; wasn’t Yitzchak Yakov’s father, & not Avraham?!
To answer, let us try to understand what Yakov is feeling as he lies down to sleep in Luz. Dreams reflect what our soul is saying, the things that deeply concern us, & this why Yakov dreams this particular dream. Here he is, the man who just was blessed as the next leader of Am Yisrael, now fleeing his home, fleeing his homeland, leaving Eretz Yisrael! He is severely, spiritually wounded (nifga) by the fact that he is headed into Galut, an alien, unknown environment filled with shady, Lavan-type characters. He is overwhelmingly depressed.
But then Yakov sleeps & dreams. He sees a ladder "mutzav artza" - rooted in the land, Eretz Yisrael. He is reminded that his roots will always be in Israel. He sees the angels of Eretz Yisrael first, the primary, ascendant angels, to remind him that he must always aspire to return to Israel someday. But he also sees angels descending, angels of Chutz L’Aretz, reassuring him that he will never be abandoned by Hashem, no matter where he goes, so long as he remembers to someday return!
G-d blesses him as "the G-d of Avraham your father." Avraham, not Yitzchak, because Yitzchak never left Israel; Avraham, who did go into Galut, is his true role model. Avraham left, but he also returned. Hashem tells Yakov that he, too, will leave but come back ("I shall return you to this Land"). This is why Yakov’s final act is to make Yosef swear unconditionally that he will return him to Eretz Yisrael & not leave him behind in Egypt.
Yakov makes a solemn pledge to return to Israel & consecrates this holy spot. He renames the place, once called Luz, "Bet El," the House of G-d, affirming that while G-d is everywhere, His primary home is in Eretz Yisrael. As long as Yakov remembers his roots, remembers Israel, he will remain a faithful member of the House of G-d, & will never be a "Luz-er." And that’s no dream.
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)
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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)
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)
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
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
