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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Masei
It is important that it was Hashem, with particular Divine Providence, who gave Amon and Moav, the nations descended from Lot, their lands in the first place. Let us note the historical context. In the days of Avraham, the kings of Mesopotamia traveled westward to fight the kings of the area southeast of the main part of Eretz Yisrael. Indeed they conquered the Refa’im, Eimim, and Zuzim (Bereishit 14:5). While K’dorlaomer (the leading king) thought they were doing this for their own benefit, they were actually paving the way for Avraham’s family, as we will see.
The four kings had destroyed the strongest armies in the region, and Avraham saved Lot along with the kings of Sodom and the neighboring region, who were in turn later destroyed by Hashem. Therefore, Lot’s family had an easier than expected time in taking control of the region. However, Sichon, a remaining giant, took land from the first king of Moav. These were actually sections of the land that the sons of Lot never "deserved." Later on, Moshe took from Sichon the same lands that the latter had taken from Moav and Amon, thus "kashering" these lands for Bnei Yisrael (see Chulin 60b).
If one looks at the complicated song of the Moshlim (Bamidbar 21:26-30), he will see that this history of the region is described in poetic form. Balak, the king of Moav, saw Bnei Yisrael gaining a foothold in the region and tried to change the outcome envisioned by the Moshlim by hiring Bilam to curse Bnei Yisrael. He thought that this would enable him to retrieve that which had been lost to Sichon. Balak did not realize that Bilam did not have any prophetic powers that could change situations; he just could receive prophecies that Hashem wanted to send him. In order to change things, Bilam employed kesamim, charms of different types (see Yehoshua 13:22), which work in the world of impurity, against which Hashem protected Bnei Yisrael.
The source of blessing is Hashem, and he shares His Divine Presence only with those who go on the path of purity, which brings to sanctity, which brings to divine inspiration. Bilam knew this, as well, and knew that he could not change the song of the Moshlim. To the contrary, his prophesy revealed that in the future, Bnei Yisrael would be allowed to capture from Moav even those sections that they were forbidden to capture in the time of Moshe (see Bamidbar 23:24 and 24:17).
Let us pray that the Jewish people will recognize that only on the path of purity and sanctity will it reach its potential and help improve mankind as a whole.
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.
