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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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P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
