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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sukkot
- The Essence of Sukkot
Well, like most Jewish practices, there is a dispute! Rabbi Akiva, following the pasuk in Parshat Emor, says it is to remind the generations that Hashem placed us in Sukkot as He took us on our journey from Egypt to Israel. In this way, we are climbing into our time machine and "re-living" history, much as we do when we eat Matzot, or light the Chanukiya. It is a "you are there!" experience.
Rabbi Eliezer - perhaps because there are so many reference in the Torah to our dwelling in tents in the desert - offers a different idea. He says that these booths are meant to represent the Clouds of Glory that surrounded us as we traveled. These were more than just clouds; they were a kind of force-field that stopped any attacks upon us, that flattened mountains in our way and that even killed any dangerous snakes or scorpions in our path.
Rabbi Eliezer's opinion is so very meaningful this year of Corona. We human beings believe that we can build walls around us that guard and protect us from any danger - "a man's home is his castle," we say, implying that we are invulnerable behind these walls. But the pandemic brings home the harsh reality that we are quite vulnerable, indeed, and that the tiniest microbe can attack and harm us no matter how grand our home may be. It is only through Hashem safeguarding us that we survive, and flourish.
And so the humility that emerges from our little Sukka puts us "in our place" and prevents us from being too arrogant or self-assured of our own mortal powers.
And yet, as I helped my intrepid son build our Sukka, another thought occurred to me. WE are creating this Sukka! That is, while the command comes from the Torah, if we ourselves did not put up the walls and cover the roof, there would be no Sukka at all. This tells me that even as I acknowledge my allegiance to Hashem and His commandments, I affirm my own role in this ritual, and my own place in the universe. I am, in a very real way, Hashem's (junior) partner.
What this says to us, particularly regarding this Mitzva of Sukka, is that not only do we look to Hashem to watch over us, we need to also watch over ourselves! Gathering in groups for any reason - including to study Torah or to pray - or not wearing a mask in public is tantamount to saying to G-d: "We don't need Your help, we'll take our chances with our health and roll the dice as to whether we live or die."
Is that really the message we want to send?!
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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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.
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.
