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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
Our fascinating Sedra includes the description of the rainbow. After the Flood, the Creator promised that in spite of how man might sin, He would never again make a flood that would destroy the world. He created the rainbow as a sign, a reminder of this covenant He made with the world.
"I have put my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Myself and the world. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, and I will remember the covenant between Myself and yourselves and all living souls, and there will never again be a flood to destroy all life."
The rainbow - a phenomenon combining clouds and colors - is both a positive and negative sign all at once. On the one hand, it indicates that we as a People have sinned; indeed, in generations where there were particularly righteous individuals, like King Chizkiyahu, Rav Shimon bar Yochai and Rav Yehoshua ben Levi, no rainbow ever appeared! On the other hand, it indicates that G-d remembers His promise and is forgiving us. Because of this "mixed blessing," while we do look at the rainbow, we don't keep staring at it. We then say a bracha (combining two Talmudic opinions):
Blessed are You, G d, Ruler of the world, who remembers the covenant, who is faithful to His covenant, and who stands by His word.
There are countless messages to the rainbow: Its many colors may represent the spectrum of people and personalities, all of whom are necessary in G-d's world; it combines light (fire) and water, bringing opposites together; and it is like a bow, but pointing skyward, as if Hashem is saying, "I will absorb the arrow and you will be safe!"
Noting that the rainbow is only half a circle, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin comments: "The rainbow is a half-picture, lacking a second half to complete the circle of wholeness. God can pledge not to destroy humanity, but since God created humanity with freedom of choice, God cannot guarantee that humanity will not destroy itself. That is OUR challenge!"
The Corona crisis is the perfect opportunity to exercise our power of choice and "complete the circle" by following safe rules and protecting one another. What a great privilege we have to join forces with the Almighty and work together to color our world.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.