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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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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.