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Beit Midrash
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- Parashat Hashavua
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The matter of chillul Hashem plays a role in several of the parshiyot read this time of year (Ki Tisa, Pekudei, Parah), as we will explain. First in Ki Tisa, after the sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe went up to the mountain and tried to undo the harsh divine judgment against Bnei Yisrael. Moshe argued: "Why should Egypt say: ‘He took them out in a situation of evil to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from off the face of the land’? Return from Your anger and back away from the evil to Your nation" (Shemot 32:12). In other words, if Hashem would destroy Bnei Yisrael, it would be a chillul Hashem.
The haftara of Parashat Para bemoans a different example of chillul Hashem. Due to Bnei Yisrael’s sins, the nation will be scattered throughout the Diaspora. When their situation is recognized and internalized by the nations, "They will desecrate My Name, as [other nations] will say about them, ‘They are the nation of Hashem, and they left His Land.’" Only when they return to the Land will Hashem’s Name be sanctified once more. (Yechezkel 39:16-20). Rashi points out, from one of the uses of singular in these p’sukim, that Hashem listens to the captors saying that Hashem had no ability to save them. This, of course, is a tremendous chillul Hashem.
In this week’s parasha, we see a serious attempt to eliminate chillul Hashem. The Torah gives an exact listing of the gold, silver, etc. that the leaders accumulated in preparing to make the Mishkan. Rabbeinu Bachyei explains that Moshe gave an exact accounting so that people would not claim that more was received and syphoned off before being given to the Mishkan workers to use. The midrash (Shemot Rabba 51:1) attaches this account to a pasuk in Mishlei and points out that just as it is important to do what one needs to do in relation to Hashem, so must he fulfill his obligations in relation to, and in the eyes of, people. This is along the lines of the halacha that one who went into the office that held the Mikdash funds had to go in with no pockets or wallets so that no one would claim that he took coins. This is as the p’sukim instruct: "You shall be clean in regard to Hashem and in regard to Israel" (Bamidbar 32:22), and "He shall find grace and good judgment in the eyes of Hashem and man" (Mishlei 3:4).
We have learned that a leader, whether a spiritual or a political one, has to be very careful about chillul Hashem, which can occur when there are suspicions of impropriety against him. Let us be careful to sanctify Hashem’s Name and merit the fulfillment mentioned in the haftara we cited: "They will say, ‘This land that was desolate will be like the Garden of Eden,’ and the desolate and destroyed cities will be inhabited when they are reinforced" (Yechezkel 36:35).
Parashat Hashavua The Content of Kingliness and Servitude
Based on Harav Shaul Yisraeli – from Shirat Hageula pp. 22-25
Rabbis in Midrash
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
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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.
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
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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!
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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.