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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Achrei Mot
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
Midrash Rabbah suggests an answer. The Midrash points out that the Kohen Gadol had to enter the holy place with, as the Midrash puts it, "bundles of mitzvot." Each "bundle" is a quote from Scripture which uses the word "zot" - "this." With each "zot" did Aharon enter the holy place to show God that the Jewish people merit forgiveness. The Midrash quotes verses which show that the word "zot" alludes to Torah, to circumcision, to Shabbat, and to many other meritorious activities of the Jewish people.
Among all of the wonderful entities which will help G-d forgive the Jews is "Zot Yerushalayim," "this is Jerusalem," a quote from the prophet Yechezkel (5:5). Certainly through the merit of Jerusalem should the Jewish people be forgiven!
But a closer look at the context of this phrase is puzzling. The full verse reads: "Thus says God: This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations, and countries are round about her." Why is this a verse about Jerusalem that will convince God to forgive us for our sins? Rashi solves the problem with his succinct comment on the verse: "In the middle of the world."
In order for us - as a nation and as individual Jews - to retain our moral compass and our authentic identity, Jerusalem must be the center of our world. It is not only a wonderful place to visit or an important historical location; it is the focal point of our universe. How fitting is it, then, that when the Kohen Gadol entered (and will yet enter!) the holy place, Jerusalem itself pleaded our case, for we have made it the center of our existence.
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Various Events FOR WHOM NOT TO VOTE
Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook stressed that Israeli politics is G-dly, so I have no problem answering this common question on a Torani blog. Also, Free-Will is a G-d-given right and obligation, to "destine one's fate" (R. Soloveichik, Kol Dodi Dofek, 67), so I obviously don't tell others how to vote. But once not a few (especially young) have already asked, a couple of personal words from experience and thoughts from chazal & Rav Kook which may be of help to others, mainly for whom NOT to vote.
P'ninat Mishpat Fallout from Failure to Install Elevator – part II
based on ruling 85007 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
