YeshivaThe torah world Gateway Beit Midrash
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tetze
The most famous answer is found in the gemara (Shabbat 32a): "This one was suited from the sixth days of creation to fall … but meritorious matters are arranged to involve meritorious people and tragedies are arranged to involve culpable people." The simple explanation is that a given person who was supposed to die would have died anyway, but it is better for the homeowner that he should die in some different way, or if by falling from someone’s roof, let it not be his roof. The Kli Yakar adds on (in the name of "some say") to the approach that what is supposed to happen will happen anyway, as follows. Possibly, the person who needs to fall will fall from the very house that he was supposed to – despite the fence. He continues to explain the rationale of the mitzva according to this – "the fence saves only he who was not fit to fall." It is not clear if he means that the saved person would not have fallen or that he would have fallen elsewhere or died in another way, assuming it was not destined how and where he would die.
The Sefer Hachinuch (mitzva 546) relates to a different philosophical possibility. He posits that great people are above the rules of nature, allowing such tzaddikim as Avraham and Chananya, Mishael, and Azaria to escape alive from furnaces. Most people, though, will be harmed if they are in situations that nature dictates will cause harm. He quotes Chazal as saying that when one relies upon a miracle, he does not receive the miracle. The gemara (Shabbat 32a) adds on that if he does merit a miracle, the miracle is reduced from his merits. Thus, posits the Sefer Hachinuch, if one stands on a roof without a fence, he may die even if he was not slated to die. This is in line with Tosafot (Ketubot 30a) who says that one should not put himself in a dangerous situation, "for certainly a person is able to kill himself."
These Rishonim extend the idea of not "relying on a miracle." It does not take a miracle to spend time on roof without a fence and not fall (I have been on my roof many times and was never saved by the fence). Rather, the fence just reduces the risk a little more. They posit apparently that if 1,000 Jews (not tzaddikim like Avraham) without a decree to die decide to ignore proper safety precautions and enter a 1/100 chance of death situation, approximately 10 will die from it. This is an important opinion to consider for those who, to use just a couple of examples, drive less carefully than they should, smoke, eat unhealthily, or ignore the risks of dangerous infectious diseases.
Lessons
fast navigation

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.

















