YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Tazria
We have experienced Pesach – we strengthened our humility, ate matza, and discussed many Torah themes. We began counting toward the giving of the Torah. We should look more deeply into the process and understand the significance of being a "free nation (consisting of free people) in our Land."
The Exodus from Egypt meant that a nation of slaves turned into a nation of free men. Chazal taught us, based on the similar words charut (engraved) and cherut (freedom) that deep study of Torah (whose words were engraved on the Tablets) is the primary way to become a free man (Kalla Rabbati 5:3). The P’sikta said that even one who is osek (occupies himself) in Torah, which implies that he just tried to understand, even if he ended up making mistakes, is included in this distinction. Either way, though, the people could not become fully free until they left Egypt and also arrived at Sinai to receive the Torah. But how is this so?
The servitude of an eved ivri (a Jew acquired by a Jew; an eved c’na’ani is more enslaved) is measured in a few ways: He relinquishes his ability to control his time, to choose a life partner (see Kiddushin 15a), and other things. His life during those years is dedicated to increasing his master’s wealth. But perhaps the biggest thing is the loss of the ability to make decisions of great spiritual consequence. He must follow the orders he is given, after all, and therefore cannot take full responsibility. (That was a silver lining for those who became servants because of repeated mistakes in leading their lives.)
Certainly, the slavery in Egypt was worse, as people had their rights to human dignity stripped from them. So why were the people not considered free when they passed through Yam Suf and were totally saved from their masters, at a place called Pi Hachirot? Why only at Sinai?
At Sinai we received the gift of the obligation to sanctify ourselves and, with it, sanctify time and the material world. This was a condition for receiving the Torah, as where the people could stand and the nature of the clothes they could wear all had to conform with the rules (see Shemot 19:6-15).
Sanctifying means that non-traversable boundaries are drawn. But doesn’t that make us slaves? When there are constraints on time and place due to the Torah, placing limitations on activities and even matters within the family, that would seem antithetical to freedom!
We will continue with this theme next week and discuss other presents that we received. In the meantime, we have just been reminded of the horrible sign in the entrance to Auschwitz, history’s worst house of slavery (with the sign saying "work is emancipating"). We also are commemorating the deaths of IDF soldiers and terror victims, who, in death, left us a legacy that we should live as free people in an independent Jewish state.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
