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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Chukat
The Tanchuma (Chukat 25) raises three possibilities as to the reason Moshe was afraid of Og: 1. Moshe was concerned that they might have acted improperly in the previous battle, against Sichon, whether in being too harsh, or perhaps in involvement in some other type of sin in the process. 2. Og was the most fearsome of the giants who lived, a remnant of the great warriors who survived from the era of the War of the Four and Five Kings (see Devarim 3:11 and Bereishit 14). 3. Moshe reasoned that if Moshe was "only" 120 and Og lived to be more than 500 years old, he must have some great virtue that protected him.
According to the first opinion, the concern was about the degree of merit of Bnei Yisrael. According to the second, it was the physical prowess of Og. According to the third, the matter was the merit of Og, as expressed through his longevity. Rashi took the third approach and identified Og’s merit as having helped Avraham by telling him that Lot had been captured by the four kings. The lesson from this is that one can never know how great the merit of a single action can be, and how it could have impact even after many years. The Ramban took the first approach, which teaches us that one can never fully rely on oneself and should continue to daven for Divine Assistance. The Rosh accepts the second approach, which teaches us that even one who is used to having miracles done for him should consider the natural prospects even if he is one who has bitachon (reliance on Hashem). This is part of one’s need to put in efforts to succeed, and it is even more clear regarding one who is not used to having miracles done for him.
We would like to add the following idea, which we will continue to develop next week. Anakim (giants) are mentioned several times throughout Tanach. We find seven names to describe this unique group of people: eimim, refa’im, gibborim, zamzumim, anakim, avim, and nefilim (Bereishit Rabba 26:7). This is a sign that they had great significance at that time. We also find that an important demarcation in Yerushalayim in ancient days, Emek Refa’im, was named for them. This valley, mentioned several times in Tanach, was, at one point in its span, a border between the tribes of Yehuda and Binyamin (Yehoshua 15:8). It is also connected to Nachal Sorek, which means that it connected the Land of the Plishtim to Yerushalayim. Therefore, the wars against the anakim held a central part in the process of acquiring Eretz Yisrael for Am Yisrael, as we will develop next week.
Let us pray that we too will overcome our enemies. Let us think about those of us (including graduates of ours) who live in the area around Aza, which overlaps with the ancient Land of Plishtim. May they have days of quiet and tranquility, so that they can serve Hashem with happiness and a pure heart.
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.
