Female LessonParashat HashavuaSeries'LibraryPiskei Din (Hebrew)Test YourselfThere is a special quality attached to the fruits of Israel, specifically the 7 Minim" (types) listed in parshat Ekev: Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives & date (honey). These fruits create Kedusha within us & enhance our love of Hashem & Israel. Each type of fruit symbolizes a different aspect of the Jewish People: the pomegranate/rimon, for example, is filled with many (613?) seeds, just as each Jew is chock-full of merits; grapes bring people to higher levels of joy, as we Jews bring joy to our G-d; olives must be crushed to produce its pure, holy oil, even as we endure crushing difficulties yet produce purity & holiness, etc. The last letters of "zavat chalav u’dvash," a land flowing with milk & honey, form the word Shabbat. Just as Hashem infused 1 specific day with unique holiness & a special mode of behavior, so, too, G-d declares 1 land – Israel - more unique than any other, assigning to it the special Mitzvot dependent on the land, & eating its special fruits.
Many have attempted to solve the question, what is THE difference which can find the common denominator between all 31 differences between the 2 versions of the Ten Commandment? This innovative article suggests that our sages already answered this with one sentence in a well-known Midrash, just most never noticed that seemingly innocent sentence. It deals with the basic difference between the masculine side of the Torah and the feminine.
Rav Kook makes some very interesting "diyukim" (deductions) from this passage in the Talmud about when to wash or moisterize (with oil) right before left, and regarding anointing one's entire body, and relates to small "timely" fixings, as opposed to general improvement.
"FREEDOM CAME WITH A FLAG”- The First Flag of Israel
The Ramban explains that the exodus from Egypt was led by the first flag of Israel. This short article brings many unknown historic and halachic proofs of the importance of the Israeli flag.
Rav Kook makes some very interesting "diyukim" (deductions) from this passage in the Talmud about when to wash or moisterize (with oil) right before left, and regarding anointing one's entire body, and relates to small "timely" fixings, as opposed to general improvement.