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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
The Sages expanded Korach’s agenda of delegitimization adding that he also denied the validity of the Torah. We read in the Talmud of the Land of Israel:"Rav said: Korach was a heretic. What did he do? He made Taliyoth entirely of Tekheleth. He came to Moses and inquired: Should they be subject to Tzitzit?. [Moses] said to him: they are subject to Tzitzit as it says: "Fringes you shall make for yourself" (Deut 22:12) . . . At that time Korach said: Neither is the Torah from the Heavens nor is Moses true nor is Aaron the High Priest" (Sanhed 10:1 50a)
Korach’s argument presupposes that it is the reason behind the Law and not the Law itself that is ultimately binding. The Tekheleth (blue die) on the fringes is intended to remind one about Heavens, but it should be rendered unnecessary if the entire garment is colored with Tekheleth.
Moses, on the other hand, derives the law matter-of-factedly, the reason behind it playing no role in its obligatoriness. His implicit response to Korach is that the Law is stand- alone and it, not the reason behind has binding force.
The Talmud of the Land of Israel teaches us that even Solomon the wisest of all men strayed to this same style of interpretation of Divine Law. He allowed himself to have many foreign wives because he believed that his composition would prevent him from succumbing to bad influence. At the time he reckoned that it is reason behind the Law and not the Law itself that was binding. (Sanhed 2:6 13a)
"The Book of Deuteronomy went up and prostrated itself before God. It said before him: Eternal Master: You have written in your Torah that any testament that is partially void is completely voided. Behold, Solomon wishes to uproot a Yodh from me. The Holy One said to it: Solomon and one thousand like him will desist but a single thing from you shall not be abrogated". (ibid)
The Book so to speak complains before God that by following the Spirit of the Law and not the Letter of the Law Solomon is annulling not just the individual laws that he violated, but effectively the Law in its entirety. It is on the backdrop of this complaint that the true nature of Korach’s heresy can be appreciated!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
