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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: The life of a shepherd brings one to healthy intellectual contemplation, in which one looks inward, and in a real, not artificial, manner. A shepherd’s life contains a lot of partnership with nature. It also does not include the type of back-breaking toil of working the land, which connects one more strongly to the material element of agriculture. That is the reason that our forefathers, who were mankind’s greatest thinkers, were shepherds.
The path of elevating one’s thought process always starts with unclear ideas. Out of their foggy characteristics comes only a great cloud of imagination. However, within the "cloud," there are great treasures, which become ever clearer, bringing light from within the darkness.
The standard status of the animals of a flock follows the pattern of human thought. If not for our ancestral shepherds, we would not have any clear thoughts. If not for the foggy thoughts, which always fill the human mind in the beginning, we would not be able to reach the eventual light that comes. Rather, first comes the set of hurried thought, which is represented by the dark-haired goats, which run forward in disarray. They precede the "orderly" group of white sheep, which represent the light.
This is the model that the shepherd sees in the flock, to which his life is dedicated. First he sees the unclear part of his group of thoughts, followed later by the discarding of the dark ideas, as from them the clear ideas emerge. This is the only way to get to more logical ideas, which become the basis for all elements of his moral life. This is the natural life. One should never give up on the life of imagination that rules over us because the light shines through it.
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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)
