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Beit Midrash
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- Parashat Hashavua
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- Bereshit
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When one looks through the beginning of Navi to see how things played out, he will notice that until the time of David, the only leader from Yehuda was Otniel ben K’naz. To the contrary, the most influential tribe was Ephrayim. They were powerful enough to try to return Bnei Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael before Hashem sent Moshe. Moshe’s assistant, Yehoshua bin Nun, from the Tribe of Ephrayim, went on to be the leader after him, The Tribe of Yehuda was actually downtrodden during the time of the Judges. There are many signs that they were under the control of the Plishtim. For example, Devorah does not mention them in the list of tribes that fought along with her or even those who were asked to do so. Even as late as the time of Shaul, there were Plishti governors in the Judean city of Beit Lechem. When the Plishtim needed a launching spot to take on Shaul’s troops at the time of Goliat, they did so in the Judean town of Socho, showing that the Plishtim were at ease there. So does it make sense that the tribe which was supposed to provide eternal leaders had so little prominence all of this time?
The Ramban on our parasha explains as follows. Yehuda was not promised to always be kings. The Torah, after all, prophesies that there would be times when kingdom would be taken away from the nation due to sin. Furthermore, the Torah just says that it would not be taken away, meaning that the promise began only after they received the kingdom, which happened at the time of David. At that time, it was said that Hashem "gave kingdom to David over Israel forever, for him and his offspring" (Divrei Hayamim II, 13:5).
David did not only begin a monarchal dynasty but also built Jerusalem and set it as the present and eternal capital of the nation, both from the religious perspective and from the political perspective. One can ask why David "gave up" Jerusalem to the rebellious Avshalom so easily, despite his fear that the city would be destroyed (see Shmuel II, 15:14). The answer comes a few p’sukim later. David declared: "If I find favor in the eyes of Hashem, He will return me and show me His dwelling place. And if He says: ‘I do not want you,’ then He can do to me what is good in His eyes." In other words, David saw his life project of building the city and preparing the Mikdash as something that should stand the test of time. Whether or not he would merit to preside over it beyond that point was of limited import to him.
Rabbis in Midrash
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
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.
