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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Va'etchanan
The revelation at Mount Sinai seems paradoxical. On the one hand, the One giving the Torah is the Creator of the world, who Himself is beyond anything in the physical world. He cannot even be accurately described with words like "present" or "outside," for it is clear that He is fundamentally out of the physical world.
On the other hand, the receivers of the Torah are mortal human beings, who are created from materials that Hashem created. They live in a world that is governed by nature and are affected by its rules. If a person tries to leave the world of nature, that basically means that he ceases to exist in the physical world. But here, in this one-time revelation, Bnei Yisrael received devarim (words, speech) from within fire, with fire representing the destruction of physical matter.
Bnei Yisrael were afraid that this close connection to the totally spiritual would take them beyond the realm of the physical world, i.e., death. But the idea was actually different – to turn the nation into a nation of medabrim, prophets who are able to receive and then transmit the word of Hashem to others.
Ostensibly, every human being has the status of a "speaker," which is above the status of a living being that other members of the animal world have. We see this from Unkelos who says that the pasuk (Bereishit 2:7) that Adam was created as a "living spirit" means that he was a "spirit that speaks." Rashi explains there that Adam and his descendants received wisdom and speech." Thus the ability to speak about abstract concepts is that which raises mankind to its special status.
Our parasha hints at a much higher level of life and speech than that described in Bereishit. At Sinai, Am Yisrael received a special present – the ability to hear the "speech" of Hashem, through prophecy, and to be connected to the eternal spiritual world, even while we live and operate in a material world. Sefer Devarim is a book of prophecy, which Moshe Rabbeinu brought down to us at Sinai from the Higher Worlds, turning us into prophets and sons of prophets.
As long as we are able to think abstractly in the study of Torah, we can return every day to Sinai, and thus be united with the Giver of the Torah. This is the most profound way to use our abilities to speak, although we are also able to use them to develop the material world. If we keep our thoughts pure, we will be able to preserve "true life." May the words that we speak receive divine approbation, as Hashem said about Bnei Yisrael at Sinai: "That which they said was good."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.