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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayeshev
The Midrash says that Reuben was the first person in history that committed a sin, and afterwards did what we call Teshuva (repentance). However, we all know that he wasn’t the first one since we all remember Adam who committed the sin of eating from the prohibited tree and that he did Teshuva and God reduced the severity of his punishment.
Before we start answering we should explain what Reuben’s sin was. When Rachel died Jacob relocated her bed into Bilha’s (her maidservant’s) tent. However, Reuben was offended on his mother’s behalf, because she was not a slave and she was the one who deserved to have more 'quality time' with Jacob when Rachel was no longer there, and therefore he decided that he should restore his mother Leah’s dignity and transfer Rachel's bed to her tent. He regretted the rebellion against his father and his own failure to honor him, as the Torah commands us.
This is just the first part of the story and not the main part. Others had also done Teshuva in this way.
What the Midrash really talks about is the moment Reuben looked at the empty pit and realized that Josef wasn’t there. At that moment he understood that it could be that he had prevented Jacob from having his twelve tribes. It's not only that he didn't rescue Josef from his brothers, but it could probably be that Jacob deserved another child instead of Josef to preserve the lineage through Rachel's side, and the only way of doing it would have been by having a child with Bilha, her handmaiden, which was no longer possible because Jacob would only be with Leah since both Leah and Rachel beds were in Leah's tent.
This meant that his actions had a bigger impact than what he thought would be the case, and he realized that one sin - of disrespecting his father - had led to a bigger shaming of his father who would not have his the continuity of his lineage fulfilled.
The new thing that Reuben is trying to teach us, is that Teshuva is not just understanding the Immediate and first result, it is understanding that every bad thing we do has its consequences, and what we do could be much more harmful than what we think.
When Reuben arrives at the understanding that he has harmed Josef, he understands that what is happening is much more significant. Josef signifies the nation of Israel and harming him is harming the continuity of the nation.
This is what we learn from Reuben's experience, that even the tiniest acts we do as the People of Israel, are acts that affect the whole nation and the whole world, and not just each one of us as private individuals, here in this world.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
