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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
The tragic tale of the Meraglim – the spies sent to scout out the Land of Israel for conquest – not only ends bad, it reverberates eternally throughout our history. Our lack of faith in Hashem - & our own low self-esteem – result not only in our wandering for 40 years in the desert until that generation died out, it "replays" every year on Tisha B’Av. As we mourn the loss of both Batei Mikdash – on the very date the spies gave their report, 9 Av – we sit low in semi-darkness to simulate that low self-esteem.
But there is some light in this dark story, too. Calev & Yehoshua courageously attempt to rally the nation & restore their confidence with a memorable double-set of words, "Aloh-Na’aleh" & "Yachol-Nuchal, we can ascend, we can succeed."
Now, most commentators see the double-phraseology as a form of accentuation, indicating power & certainty, as if to say, "we surely can go up; we definitely can do it!" But I have another thought about these words.
When a rabbi receives his Semicha, the degree is usually called "Yoreh-Yoreh." This is a kind of question & answer: "Can he teach? Yes, he can teach!" I suggest that Calev is also posing this question to the nation, but with a twist. He asks the question in the singular, "can he go up?" but he answers it in the plural, "yes, we can go up!" "Can he do it?" "Yes, we can do it!"
Calev, I suggest, is admonishing the people that perhaps as individuals, these tasks are formidable – a former slave people dislodging 7 large, indigenous nations. But as a people, united, when we – both man & Hashem work together - there is no limit to what we can achieve.
Israel is the most challenging of nations. We are surrounded by enemies, & it often seems as if the whole world is breathing down our necks. We wonder, "how can we survive; how can we meet these challenges?" The answer is by doing it together, as one unit. Because when we operate in unison, we skew all the graphs, we beat all the odds, we confound all the experts.
True, I cannot always succeed; but we will always find a way. I alone cannot always bring miracles down from Heaven, but we have the ability to move Heaven & Earth.
So next time you ask yourself the question, "Can I do this?" be sure to answer, "Yes, we can do this!"
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.