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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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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
