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Beit Midrash
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- Rosh Hashana
Every Jewish holiday has a representative color: Yom Kippur is white, of course; Pesach is blue or t’chelet, etc. And every Chag also has a unique icon associated with it: Matza, the Menora, a Sukka, the Shofar, etc.
Each Yom Tov also connects to one of the senses: Pesach is all about speech ("peh-sach," the mouth talks; reading the Hagada, etc). Shavuot is about sight ("the people saw the thunder & the lightening" at Har Sinai). Sukkot relates to touch (holding the Arba Minim, building the Sukka). What sense connects to Rosh Hashana?
I suggest that Rosh Hashana’s essential focus – perhaps along with Yom Kippur - is on hearing: The many tefilot that we hear ourselves saying, the booming voice of the Chazan, the appeal to G-d to listen to our prayers (as in "Sh’ma Koleynu") and, of course, hearing the Shofar. In fact, the unusual bracha that the Bal Tokaya will make before performing the Mitzva of shofar is "lish’moa kol shofar," to hear the various sounds of the shofar, rather than produce them. And the responsive prayer we say just before shofar-blowing includes the petition:
"You can hear my voice, Hashem; please do not close your ears to my plea for salvation."
People always ask: "How do I know that Hashem hears me when I pray? After all, I do all the talking, & He never says a word!" But in a world where we so often talk over each other (have you ever heard a TV interview in Israel, or worse, a debate in the Knesset, where the participants all scream & yell, & no one listens?!) isn’t it comforting that G-d is letting us speak without any interruption?
In the Selichot prayers that start (for Ashkenazim) this Motzei Shabbat, we begin to voice our confession to G-d, a vidui that we’ll continue through Yom Kippur. But we also recite a beautiful piyut that contains the phrase:
"G-d, You who dwells in a place on high: bend your ear to listen el ha-rina, v’el ha’t’fila."
The word or name "Rina" means "a joyful song;" it has the gematriya of 265, which equals "al ha-nisim." When we put our heart & soul into our prayers, we create a marvelous melody to G-d that fills the halls of Heaven. We can be assured, without a doubt, Hashem will hear that song & perform miracles on our behalf. You hear?
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
