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Beit Midrash
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With God’s help, the Jewish nation achieved an extraordinary victory over its enemies in the Six-Day War. The war began on three fronts, and in the span of just six days, Israel utterly shattered its enemies’ military strength and dealt them a total defeat. At the same time, all the holy places in Judea and Samaria – most significantly the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount – were liberated, along with the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan. Anyone who viewed these events honestly and had even the slightest spark of faith in his heart saw clearly the words of our holy Torah, “Since the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you” (Devarim 23:15). This great victory was truly a manifest miracle.
In order to thank God and publicize the miracle, the Chief Rabbinate – headed by R. Isser Yehuda Unterman and R. Yitzĥak Nissim – ordained the 28th of Iyar, the day on which the Old City and the Temple Mount were liberated, as a day of thanksgiving and joy for all of Israel, on which Hallel is recited, with a berakha, after Shaĥarit. R. Shlomo Yosef Zevin and R. Shaul Yisraeli also participated in and supported this decision.[11]
[11] See R. Shmuel Katz’s article on the topic in Ha-Rabbanut Ha-Rashit, vol. 2, especially pp. 974-5. For the exact wording of the Chief Rabbinate’s decision, see Hilkhot Yom Ha-atzma’ut Ve-Yom Yerushalayim, p. 387. A responsum from R. Unterman is cited on p. 125, which discusses the great importance of the mitzva to publicize a miracle. This mitzva is possibly even more important than that of reciting the Shema; we even interrupt Torah study on Purim to participate in reading the megilla, in order to publicize the miracle. There, R. Unterman also expands upon the mitzva of establishing a holiday on a day when the Jews were delivered from distress. R. Meir Kaplan writes likewise (loc. cit. p. 204). R. Seraya Deblitzky also writes of the need to establish a day of thanksgiving for the Six-Day War (loc. cit. p. 61). According to R. Ovadia Yosef, however, one should not recite a berakha on the Hallel that one recites on Yom Yerushalayim, as he maintains, based on Ĥida’s opinion, that we cannot institute the recitation of Hallel with a berakha unless a miracle happens to all of Israel, and R. Ovadia does not view the Jews of Jerusalem as the entirety of Israel. The Chief Rabbinate decided that even when the 28th of Iyar falls out on a Friday, the date when Hallel is recited should not change.
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
Peninei Halakha 18. Torah Verses in the Prayers and in the Berakha of She-asa Li Kol Tzorki
Chapter 10: The Laws of Tisha Be-Av
The Laws of Purim 7. The Proper Time for Matanot La-evyonim and Mishlo’ach Manot
Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness
Rabbis in Midrash
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.
