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Beit Midrash
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Hashem commanded Bnei Yisrael to remember the day they left Egypt (Shemot 13:3). The midrash (Shemot Rabba 19:7), notes the similarity to the commandment to remember the day of Shabbat. It says that Hashem was telling them to commemorate the miracles of the Exodus as they were obligated to remember the creation of the world, which is at the heart of Shabbat. The midrash continues that just as there are seven days of the week which repeat themselves, so are there seven days of Pesach, from the day of the liberation until the day of the splitting of the sea, which we commemorate yearly.
What is the connection between the ongoing commemoration of Shabbat and the two parts of the celebration of Pesach? Rav Chaim Goldvicht (Asufot Ma’arachot, IV, pp. 81-90) explains with the help of another question. The gemara says that Bnei Yisrael would have been fully redeemed if they would have fully kept two Shabbatot. Why is one Shabbat insufficient and two sufficient?
He explains, based on the Sefat Emet, that there is a difference between a first Shabbat and a second. Hashem gives us the Shabbat, with its entire spiritual splendor, as a gift from Him. The job of the human being is to take that sanctity and apply it to the mundane days of the week. This work of integrating the message prepares the person to accept the Shabbat that follows the spiritually enriched week on a higher plane. That special second Shabbat, after preparations through toil to accept it properly, makes one, personally, and the nation, collectively, fit for redemption.
Similarly, Hashem granted Bnei Yisrael liberation from Egypt on the first day with minimal participation on their part. However, in the days that followed, Bnei Yisrael traveled in circles in the desert in a manner that encouraged Egypt to prepare for attack at Yam Suf. By taking part in permanently severing links to Egypt, they caused the liberation to have a greater impact on the development of the nation. In both cases, then, commemorating the miracle of creation and of liberation on a cyclical basis engenders an ongoing growth, inspired from Above, then from below, then from Above again, etc.
One of the most difficult religious tasks is to find a balance between viewing history as Divinely mandated and controlled and between striving to be actively involved in its unfolding. As we have seen, both are part of the religious experience. Those, for example, who were or are involved in the building and defense of the State of Israel are more likely to feel a strong connection to it. On the other hand, when one is active, he may have a tendency to see the human effort as the cause of its success or failure. The daily remembrance of the events of the Exodus should certainly bring us to remember Hashem’s leading role. However, we should also remember the beauty of being a partner with Hashem in unfolding, positive, historical events.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
