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Beit Midrash
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The closing section of our Sedra tells a rather mysterious story of a person – his name is never mentioned – who blasphemes the name of Hashem, & is subsequently executed by stoning for this act. Who is he? Why did he do what he did? What is going on here?
Rashi tries to throw some light on the incident. The man’s father was actually the Egyptian that Moshe had killed long ago, in response to the Egyptian’s attack upon a Jew who had discovered that his wife (Shlomit bat Divri) was carrying on an illicit relationship with the Egyptian (this is the only such liaison in the entire period of the servitude). Moshe killed the Egyptian by pronouncing G-d’s explicit name. The Gemara (Sanhedrin 58) learns from here that a non-Jew who strikes a Jew is subject to the death penalty, as it is tantamount to an attack on Hashem. Says the Gemara in the name of Rav Chanina: "One who hits a Jew on the chin is as if he hit the chin of the Shechina."
Remarkably, the same explicit name that Moshe used to kill the father of the blasphemer is the name that gets cursed by the blasphemer. In other words, his father was killed for an indirect attack on G-d, & his son takes it a step further & attacks G-d directly, leading to his execution.
Over the last week, we in Israel experienced a massive barrage of deadly missiles fired at us by Palestinian terrorists in an attempt to kill as many innocent civilians as possible. Our crime? We are Jews, & our enemies hate us precisely because of that. In truth, they - like Amalek - wish to attack G-d, & so - that being impossible - they strike out at Hashem’s first-born, the Jewish People. That is why they never refer to us as "Israelis," only "Jews." They understand that the terms are one & the same.
But our holy soldiers – who we honored this week by memorializing the fallen - stand between us & the terrorist murderers. They fight not only to protect the people of Israel from physical harm, but also to honor the name of G-d. For each time a Jew is hurt, the name of Hashem is defiled, while each time we strike back & punish the perpetrators, the name of G-d is sanctified.
Earlier in the sedra (22:17-24), the Torah taught the law that an offering to Hashem must be without blemish. Immediately after, the Torah states the great principle of Kiddush Hashem, one of only 4 Mitzvot that we are required to die for, rather than transgress. The connection between the two is crystal clear: When we honor G-d by defending ourselves & vanquishing our – and His – enemies – we remove the blemish of anti-Semitism and hatred of the Almighty that stands in the way of creating a more holy & G-dly world. May we have the will & strength to always persevere in this sacred struggle.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
