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Beit Midrash
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Bilaam knew how to "lekalel, lecharef and lakov", three different terms for cursing: The word "klala", curse, from the source "KL", to cynically explain how everything is trivial and worthless; "lecharef" - to disparage everyone by cutting intellectual analysis; "lakov" - from the source of NKV - to pierce - to perforate and destroy the credibility of those standing in front of him.
Today, there are people whose profession is cursing. They are very talented and very clever people, with the gift of brilliant and glittering speech - whose message is that the life is bad - that everyone is lying, and that everyone is deceitful; they have a pessimistic vision that the world is going to ruin.
These voices are heard louder when the world is in distress.
We must not listen to them!
We must not listen to them, but not because they are talking nonsense. They know how to identify the correct problems, but they are losing the forest for the trees.
In the end, Bilaam is forced to admit that "Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael" - how good are your tents Jacob; your tabernacles, Israel. The good tents of the Jewish people, the inner modesty - these are what are victorious. While looking at the "Rosh Tzurim", the mountain tops, - we connect to the peak of the mountain, to the strong root of life; when looking at a small baby, at a plant that grows - we are filled with optimism and faith.
Bottom line, everyone feels deep in their heart that the world is not bad. Despite all the difficulties, despite all the disappointments, it will be good. Someone is up there.
The bad will pass.
The good will prevail.
With the help of God.
Rabbi Haggai Lundin
Family and Society There Will Not Be A Civil War!
(Told to the students of the Hesder Yeshiva in Holon)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.