YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Matot
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Masei
In next week’s sedra of Masei, Hashem designates 6 cities of refuge to be built, places where involuntary manslaughterers can go to escape vengeance from the victims’ next of kin. 3 of these cities were to be in Israel proper, 3 were to be across the river in Trans-Jordan. The Gemara in Makot asks the obvious question: Why was it necessary to create as many refuge cities in trans-Jordan as in Israel, when there are only a quarter of as many tribes on the east bank? To this, the Talmud answers that murder was more prevalent on the east side of the Jordan than on the west side.
This needs some exploration. What was it that caused there to be more violence among the Jews in one area than in another? Were Reuven & Gad more violent people by nature? If so, where is there any indication of this?
Now, we might want to suggest that since these 2 ½ tribes chose to live apart from their fellow Jews, that indicated a basic flaw in their moral character & perhaps this is what accounted for their violent tendencies. But, in fact, not only did R,G & M cross the Jordan in order to fight alongside their brothers for 7 years, they actually stayed after the war for 7 more years until all the land had been settled. This was quite commendable, & should have earned them merit!
But as noble as their actions may have been, the stark reality is that they were away from their families for 14 years; their children grew up without a father figure in the house to help guide them & mold their character. And without that crucial "home schooling," the children lacked a strong sense of discipline, which later would be manifested in an increased prevalence for violence.
Of course, the murders we are speaking of here were not cold-blooded or premeditated; they were involuntary & accidental. But they nevertheless stemmed from a failure to fully appreciate the preciousness of life & the need to behave in a way that safeguarded the other person’s welfare, the need to carefully watch out for our neighbor’s good as zealously as we watch out for our own well-being.
This vital life-lesson of being concerned for all of society, and not only ourselves, is best transmitted by a stable, well-adjusted, cohesive family unit, something that sadly was lacking in this province. It is a model that is no less crucial to us today than it was then – perhaps, even more so.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
