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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Vayelech
R. Yehoshua said that the pasuk, "You [Moshe] will lie with your fathers and will rise up the nation and will sin after the idols of the Land…" (Devarim 31:16) is the source both for the resurrection of the dead and that Hashem knows what will happen in the future (Sanhedrin 90b). Why does R. Yehoshua contort the pasuk so that it can teach both lessons?
Daniel said: "To you, Hashem, is the righteousness, and to us is embarrassment" (Daniel 9:7). Now that we have our own state, we can understand our embarrassment better than before. Where do we find a nation whose members do not all flock to its land from abroad when it is now possible? How can so many of those who are here disrespect religious leaders and deny the glory of our national past? Our generation pales in comparison to the previous one, when the chalutzim dreamed and sacrificed so much to build. Why do these problems exist now?
"When [our nation] is elevated, it reaches the Heavens; when it falls, it falls to the dirt" (Pesikta, Bereishit 15:5). This refers mainly to the nation’s spiritual side. Hashem complains that we can be the most difficult nation to get to be obedient to its G-d (see Beitza 25b). Part of the complaint is that we have at our disposal special tools of elevation, especially the ability to turn the mundane into sanctity. When Moshe was on Sinai for 40 days, he "ate" from the glory of the Divine Presence, similar to the eating of the noblemen in Israel when Hashem revealed Himself (Shemot 24:11 and Shemot Rabba 47:7). While everything is spiritual, most people’s bodies are unable to digest the spiritual in that form.
On Yom Kippur, the day Moshe descended Sinai, we have an element of Moshe’s ability to be sustained from Hashem without physicality. The essence of the fast is to desist from eating, like angels, and be energized without it. We have a great hunger for spirituality, but when we do not find it, we can go very low. Other nations suffice with their idol worship, but that does not satisfy our thirst. The nations have an idol called democracy and do not notice that they need more spirituality than that. A Jew needs more than that and keeps searching.
We return to the pasuk in Devarim. If one can say that Moshe died, i.e., that we cannot be inspired by Moshe’s sanctity, then the nation will go sin with idols. Yom Kippur tells us that first we eat, and then we can move on to elevating the physical. When we appear to die, it is really "lying with the fathers," it is a slumber and not death. We also learn that Hashem sees the future, and He knows that our spiritual failings are not representative of our level, but that He knows we will return to our proper standing.
We need to "return until Hashem" (see Hoshea 14:2, from our haftara). We can reach the throne of divine glory (Yoma 86a), and that is what we need – a full return and not a partial one, a full liberation, and not a partial one. This is what we ask for this Yom Kippur.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
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.
