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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- D'varim
What happened in the meantime? Later in our haftara, Yeshayahu said: "Woe unto me for nidmeiti" (Yeshayahu 6:5). The expression nidmeiti is found only this one time in Tanach, and so it is not surprising that many meanings have been suggested. Targum Yonatan posits that it means that he was worthy of rebuke, although the etymological connection is hard to discern (perhaps for this reason, Rashi does not cite it). Rashi explains that Yeshayahu felt that he should die because he saw the "face of the Divine Presence" (Shoftim 13:22). He supports this idea with the fact that Manoach thought he would die for seeing something divine and from the fact that in Tzefania (1:11) the root is used as a parallel to nichrat (uprooted). The Radak agrees with Rashi regarding content, although he brings an etymological connection from elsewhere (Hoshea 10:15).
The Pesikta (Pesikta Rabbati 33) says that nidmeiti is from the root damom (like the word dumiya) and expounds as follows: "I saw things that are impossible to see and still live, and yet I saw and did live. Should I not have added my praise to that of the ministerial angels?! If I had joined my praise with theirs, I would have lived forever like them. How could it be that I was silent?" According to this approach, this silence was behind a failure that we will soon discuss.
According to this approach, it is possible that Yeshayahu was so shaken by the power of what he saw (the divine revelation of the ma’aseh hamerkava) that he was unable to speak. We find a similar phenomenon regarding Yechezkel, who, after his initial prophecy, was told: "I will glue your tongue to your pallet, and you will be mute" (Yechezkel 3:26). There is little option but to say that Yeshayahu was silent during this whole time due to the unprecedented prophecy of the ma’aseh hamerkava. Amos began prophesying two years before the ra’ash (literally, earthquake) (see Amos 1:1), and almost his whole prophecy was focused on it. He describes the ra’ash with similar words to those of Yeshayahu, and proclaims, "I have seen Hashem" (ibid. 9:1). This vision concludes his book and perhaps his period as a prophet, due to the awe-stricken silence it brought on. We find something similar regarding Michayahu (Melachim I, 22:19).
Therefore, we can summarize that sometimes the silence of prophets is a natural response to the loftiness of their prophetic vision. Let us pray that we will all internalize that "there is a time to be silent and a time to speak" (Kohelet 3:7). (An expansion of this theme can be found in my book Tzofnat Yeshayahu.)
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.