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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Naso
The Torah study is dedicatedin honor of
Inbal bat Alon
Hashem uses the kohanim’s blessings to bless Bnei Yisrael and have His Name placed upon them (Bamidbar 6: 22-27). This line of communication seems to be in one direction; from Hashem, through the kohanim, onto the people. However, Chazal demonstrate that the blessings’ impact is more pervasive. The heads of each tribe brought identical sets of sacrifices on the days of inauguration of the Mishkan. The greatest, in quantity and apparently in prominence, were the korbanot shelamim (peace offerings). Each head brought 5 such sacrifices from eilim (rams), atudim (goats), and kevasim (sheep). In total, they brought 60 of each animal. Each leader brought 15 animals between those sets.
Remember those numbers, and you will see how the midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 14:18) connects these korbanot to birkat kohanim. The first blessing contains 15 letters. Each subsequent beracha is 5 letters longer than the previous one. The total of letters in the triple blessing is 60. The blessings end off with the hope for peace (shalom), and the sacrifices in question are shelamim (peace offerings). Birkat kohanim was first used at the Mishkan’s inauguration (Yerushalmi Ta’anit 4:1). Given the strong correspondence between the two adjacent Torah sections, the question is of the chicken and the egg. Which element impacts on the other?
After the one-time direct contact between Hashem and Bnei Yisrael and their subsequent failure with the Golden Calf, Hashem selected groups of the spiritual elite as intermediaries. Moshe was the "father" of generations of prophets, who informed the people of the Divine word. Regarding the relationship of giving, the kohanim were a medium for each side to show love for the other through blessings and sacrifices, respectively. For Bnei Yisrael to bring a "peace" offering, the kohanim had to develop Bnei Yisrael’s propensity toward peace by means of Hashem’s blessing that they convey. A representative’s authority depends on those he represents. For the kohanim to have a status in Hashem’s eyes, Bnei Yisrael, whom they served, used the korbanot to show a desire for a spiritual life of peace.
May our brethren abroad, who now have the opportunity to be blessed by the kohanim, and we in Israel, who have it regularly, experience together the shechinah on the kohanim’s hands in the Beit Hamikdash.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
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.