YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ha'azinu
Slowly we are approaching the end of the Torah scrolls. At the same time, the life of Moshe, the greatest of the prophets, who had no peer before him or after him, is being "rolled until its end." When we read the parshiyot of parting from Moshe, we see that he was not so concerned about dying but that he was not seeing his life task to its end. The Land to which he strove to lead his nation was now within reach, but he would not be allowed to enter. "For from opposite it you will see the Land, and there you will not go, to the Land that I am giving to Bnei Yisrael" (Devarim 32:52).
It was not easy for him to leave his flock. He knew there were great challenges before them. The contact with the indigenous peoples of the Land, so many of whom were steeped in idol worship, would create spiritual challenges. It is, after all, easier to serve a god that does not make moral demands on its followers but just goes along with what one’s evil inclination tells him. Moshe could prophetically see how his great efforts would be partially destroyed and people would stray from Hashem and embrace foreign gods. How could the nation forget its grand role in the world? What Moshe was unable to carry out in practice at the time he tried to put into words before his death to leave with the people. For one last time, he collected the people and gave unparalleled, strong expressions of truths. These truths, which will never fade, were presented with the introduction: "Listen, o heavens, and I will speak, and the land shall hear the utterings of my mouth" (ibid. 1).
When were these words said? Was it really thousands of years ago?! Doesn’t it seem that it was just yesterday?! The ideas are so fresh and accurate for our own times! We read the warnings. While they could be blurred by the pass of times, they also foresaw the future with the confidence of the past: "Yeshurun (Israel) became fattened and kicked" (ibid. 15). We see how this happened in the times of the kings and the Later Prophets, who saw it and warned about it without real success. The p’sukim that describe impending doom and destruction are thunderous (see ibid. 22, 26). They make us picture the flames of destruction and our predecessors walking, chained, into exile.
Yet we read also words of encouragement and comfort, which always allowed us to look toward the future with hope and belief in the End of Days. Even if it has been delayed, it will indeed come. "Let the nations sing the praise of His nation, as the blood of His servants he will take vengeance. Revenge will come to His enemies, and His Land will atone for His nation" (ibid. 43)
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.
