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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayishlach
Yaakov reached this level because he worked with honesty for his father-in-law, even though the latter tried to trick him several times and was sometimes successful at it. His name (Lavan Ha’arami) hints at his moral level. The letters of Lavan also spell out naval (disgusting person), and of Arami also spell out ramai (cheat). Yet Yaakov described how hard he worked both in the day and at night (Bereishit 31:38-40). On his way back from Aram, Yaakov met malachim and called the place of meeting, Machanayim. All commentaries agree that these angels helped him in his struggle against his brother, Eisav.
Moving forward a few hundred years, we look at David. Even before he became king, David worked with great dedication to prevent plundering of the flocks of the inhabitants of the greater Chevron area. The workers of Naval (reminiscent of Lavan) were disturbed that Naval did not show appreciation to David for his contribution to Naval’s prosperity (Shmuel I, 25:15-16). They mentioned how David worked hard in the day and the night, pushing off sleep.
The matters of the hard work in the day and the night and the lack of the recipient’s appreciation connect the stories of Yaakov and David. Both of them were like malachim who sanctified Hashem’s name with their comportment. Therefore, it is not surprising that in three different places in Shmuel (I, 29:9; II, 14:17; II, 14:20) those who interacted with David said that he resembled a malach.
Another connection between Yaakov and David is the mention of Machanayim (see last week regarding Yaakov, and Shmuel II, 17:24 regarding David). In David’s case, he was assisted by three "malachim," kind people, some Jewish and some not, who supplied David with necessities when he was fleeing from the rebellion of his son Avshalom and Avshalom’s large entourage. These are reminiscent of the angels that helped Yaakov, who was preparing for the arrival of his hostile brother. David, just like Yaakov, broke up his encampment into three groups. Also, one of the situations in which David did not allow himself to sleep because of the great task before him was in finding the place of and making preparations for the Beit Hamikdash (see Tehillim 132:3-4).
While the question has been discussed many times as to why David did not make it into the list of all-time leaders of the nation, with the forefathers, we see that the Torah hints at significant overlap between him and at least one of them.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
