Yeshiva
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Bechukotai
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yosef ben Yaakov
What is most striking about this Midrash is its historical accuracy. For close to 2,000 years, Eretz Yisrael was in a state of ruins. No nation was able to make it flourish, until the Jews began to return around 150 years ago. In the mid 1200's, the Ramban wrote: "Ever since we left it, it has not accepted any other nation; and they all try to settle it, but are unsuccessful." And in the mid 1800s, Mark Twain described the Land as follows: "It is a hopeless, dreary, heart-broken land… Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes… (The Innocents Abroad, chap. 56).
The fact that this prophecy has come true in our times is more than just historically impressive. According to Chazal, the rejuvenation of Eretz Yisrael is the clearest sign of the imminent redemption (see the words of R. Abba, Sanhedrin 98a, and Rashi's comment, ad loc.)
It is a great privilege to be living at a time when the clearest signs of redemption are coming to pass before our very eyes. This privilege, however, comes with some obligations, like appreciating what God has given us and returning to His Land to help it flourish even more.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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
