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Of Betzalel’s prodigious intellect the Talmud of Eretz Yisrael teaches us: "Rabbi Tanhuma in the name of R. Huna said: it does not say ‘and Betzalel did like all that Moses commanded him’ but ‘like all that God Commanded Moses’ – his thinking coincided even with those things that he did not hear from his master (Moses)" (Peah 1:2)
The Torah gives a subtle hint that Bezalel’s own human cognition was independent of God’s revelation to Moses: "and Betzalel the son of Uri the son of Hur of the tribe of Yehudah did all that God commanded Moses" (38:22).
The Torah does not state that Betzalel built the Mishkan according to the specifications which Moses gave him, but according to those that God gave Moses. In other words, Betzalel divined the specifications on his own and these specifications coincided with those that God gave Moses.
While Man’s intellect may have its limitations, Betzalel’s example teaches us that the same intellect has the capacity to divine God’s will, to understand God’s world and to reason out God’s ideals without a direct revelation from God Himself.
However, in seeking out truths one must always acknowledge one’s limitations. The Talmud of Eretz Yisrael teaches us: "Rabbi Hiyya the son of Ba came to Rabbi Le’ezer. He said to him: Persuade Rabbi Judah the Prince to write me a letter of recommendation so that I can go out to another country for sustenance. He persuaded him and wrote: Behold we sent you a great man. What is his greatness? That he is not embarrassed to say ‘I have not heard’ [the law]" (Hag. 1:8).
A man’s true greatness lies not his ability to know but in his ability to say "I do not know". It is not mental aptitude alone that enables him to reach truths, but a predisposition to intellectual honesty and an awareness of one’s human limitations.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.