YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ha'azinu
The Torah tells us, in the haunting song that makes up most of the parasha, to "remember the days of history, contemplate the years of generation after generation," which, it continues, can best be done when you "ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will say to you" (Devarim 32:7). The Torah continues to discuss the creation of the special connection between Hashem and Bnei Yisrael. It says that Hashem found us in a desert, in a place of danger and surrounded us with protection in the most devoted way (ibid. 10). Rashi explains that the surrounding was with the miraculous clouds, which is, according to one opinion (Sukka 11b), that which we commemorate on Sukkot.
One way or another, a sukka is consistently a sign of divine protection. In the psalm we are in the midst of saying for close to two months (Tehillim 27), David speaks about Hashem hiding him in His sukka on a difficult day (27:5). Yeshayahu (4:6) refers to the sukka as protection from the sun and from rain, as a metaphor for Hashem’s protection over Bnei Yisrael in a more glorious future.
But a sukka, a simple booth, is a strange metaphor for divine protection, which we expect to be the strongest possible. Yaakov Avinu and family, after escaping danger from Eisav, traveled to a place where he built a house for his family and a sukka for his flock (Bereishit 33:17). Yes, people prefer houses, and a sukka is only a temporary dwelling. But interestingly, Yaakov named that place not for the house that he built but for the sukkot he built, calling it Sukkot.
The Zohar famously calls our stay in the sukka as being in the shadow of belief. Therefore, we can explain that we do not want to think about divine protection in terms of a house. We specifically want to feel the physical vulnerability, with the ultimate protection and confidence coming from our relationship with Hashem.
Sukkot is meant to celebrate the protection of Hashem that can often be forgotten. While the first two of the shalosh regalim celebrate historically momentous events with great miracles, the Exodus and the revelation of Hashem and giving of the Torah at Sinai, Sukkot commemorates the 40 years of survival in the desert. One way of looking at it is that nothing miraculous happened then; we just survived. But that is very far from the truth. Instead of incredible one-time miracles, the people were sustained by relatively subtle but miraculous and critical daily miracles, from the manna to the well to the protective clouds. This should remind us more accurately of the "miracles that are with us every day." We can fail to notice that we are surrounded and protected by the Master of the Universe, but when we are in the shadow of belief, we know that we are indeed protected by Divine Providence.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
