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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Yitro
Ok, but just what did he hear? Rashi comments that Yitro heard both about Kriat Yam Suf, as well as the stunning military victory over Amalek. Fair enough. But when Yitro speaks to Moshe, he makes a rather curious statement:
"Now I know that Hashem is greater than all the gods, by virtue of the thing which had been conspired against them (ba’davar asher zadu aleyhem)."
Rashi picks up on this unusual word "zadu" & connects it to the story of Yakov & Esav, when Yakov made a bowl of lentils for Esav & "traded" it for the Birthright. There the pasuk (BR. 25:29) says, "Vayazed Yakov nazid," using that very same word that’s used here. Rashi adds the saying of the Gemara (Sota 11): "In the pot where the (lentils) were cooked, there he (Esav) was cooked."
Let’s try to make some sense of these cryptic remarks, & better understand better just what Yakov & Esav’s story has to do with Yitro & the Yam Suf.
Yitro, clearly, was impressed by the attribute of justice which Hashem had meted out, both to Mitzrayim & to Amalek. Both had severely mistreated Hashem’s first-born children, the Jews, & now it was payback time. Fair enough. But what most caught Yitro’s attention was the manner in which G-d reacted; He dispensed that justice in a precise & calculated measure for measure, mida k’neged mida fashion. Egypt had begun its genocidal campaign against the Jews by throwing the males into the water, & so the plagues began with the water "rebelling" against Paro & turning into blood. The final blow, fittingly, saw the drowning of the Egyptian army in the waters of Yam Suf.
As for Amalek, they had proclaimed that there was no G-d fighting for Israel; that Egypt’s demise was random, a fluke. And so Moshe raised his hands to the sky as the battle raged, indicating that it was Hashem alone who would act on Israel’s behalf & demolish Amalek.
And as for Esav? He deemed his status of first-born to be worth no more than a hill of beans, & so when he later cried out to his father that he was being denied the primary blessing, his complaint was dismissed. Like Egypt and Amalek, he was, to paraphrase the Gemara, the victim of his own actions.
In similar fashion, the Arabs & Palestinians have rejected every possible offer Israel (& the U.S.) have presented to them for 3 generations. And so it is only measure-for-measure that there finally comes a proposal that rightfully rewards Israel for our having taken the high road & conducted ourselves with decency & integrity in the face of unbridled hostility.
In life, you see, when you do the right thing, you will eat your just desserts, rather than cook your own goose.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
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
