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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
Furthermore, R’ Yochanan says in the midrash: Never let the mitzvah of the omer be light in your eyes. Even though the omer comes from barley, which is animal fodder, one might consider it a mitzvah of low significance and therefore deal with it leniently. But Avraham Avinu only received the land in the merit of the omer, as it says, "And to you I gave this land" [on condition] "You keep my covenant," referring to the brit of the omer. In other words, Chazal here teach us that the omer is not simply a mitzvah, but a brit. A mitzvah with the status of brit influences all of the other 612 mitzvot, as indicated by brit’s gematria - 612. What is so special about the mitzvah of the omer that bestows upon it the status of brit? Other mitzvot with this status—milah, Shabbat, learning Torah—influence our lives in major ways. But why does omer receive this status as well?
The answers to these questions lie in the definition of the word omer. In Hebrew, the root omer has three definitions: 1) omer, a measurement - in the Desert, B’nei Yisrael were commanded to eat an omer of manna, one tenth of an eifah; 2) me’amer, gathering together twigs and the like - one of the 39 melachot prohibited on Shabbat; and 3) l’hitamer, to misuse an object in one’s possession - the Torah forbids one who takes an eishet yefat to’ar (the beautiful captive) in battle and decides not to marry her to keep her as a slave, saying, "lo titamer bah." These three definitions complement one another, providing a more accurate definition of omer.
During the forty years B’nei Yisrael traveled the Desert, the manna fell every day except Shabbat. Once they crossed the Jordan, the manna stopped and they no longer received their bread effortlessly, but became partners in its creation. Partnership with HaKadosh Baruch Hu is certainly advantageous, but contains a great risk as well. When a person toils and succeeds, he may mistakenly conclude that his own efforts caused his success, not any input from HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
The mitzvah of omer counteracts this misperception. The Torah commands us to sacrifice barley, animal fodder, so that we understand that even the lowliest of foods comes from HaKadosh Baruch Hu. In order to amplify this lesson, the Torah commands us to count up to the omer for 49 days. When a person lives in such a way, he can gather (me’amer) as much as he wants with no danger of misusing it (l’hitamer); quite the contrary, he will mete it out in proper measurements (omer).
This may be the depth behind the phrase "lichrot brit, to cut a deal." There is no greater oxymoron: lichrot means to sever, while a brit is something that connects. The idea is that the two parties to the brit must cede a little bit in order to receive. HaKadosh Baruch Hu desires to cede something to us, and He wants to cede even more. The more we use what we have properly, the more He desires to give us. The brit of the omer is therefore the brit through which Avraham Avinu merited Eretz Yisrael. To inherit the Land is only possible if we truly feel that everything not only came from Him, but continues to come from Him: "When you come to the land that I give you," in the present tense.
May Hashem grant us the ability to truly feel that everything emanates from Him, and through this may He grant us ever more.
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.
