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Somehow, Avraham suppresses his doubt along with all its moral dilemmas, & reacts to Hashem’s command with Emuna Sh'lema. The man who discovered G-d through deductive reasoning, logic & common sense must now put all those aside & activate his element of pure Faith.
But Avraham is not the only hero of this story. Yitzchak - no mere "lad" at age 37 - also submits to Hashem’s will. At one point he asks (sheepishly?), "where is the lamb for the offering?" but then he accepts Avraham’s assurance that "G-d will show us the lamb." Fittingly, this episode is called, "Akeidat YITZCHAK" (and not "Nisayon Avraham) in Yitzchak's name and honor.
Approaching Har HaMoriah, Avraham sees glowing clouds ringing the place of the Akeida, future home of the Bet HaMikdash & he asks Yitzchak, "Do you see the place?" Yitzchak says he does. Avraham then asks Yishmael & Eliezer, but they see nothing! So they stay behind with the donkey, as father & son go forward. The pasuk then dramatically declares: "The two of them walked together."
This Shabbat is our beloved Ari z"l’s Bar Mitzva parsha. I am thinking of all the parents who brought their children to Israel, to live in this "challenging" neighborhood, to fight like lions in our holy army against the enemies of Am Yisrael. These parents deserve enormous credit for answering the command of Hashem to come here with their families, despite all the risks that this entails.
But it is the children, the "Yitzchaks" of our people who risk their lives. They are the ones who face the knife as they selflessly defend us, who "tie" themselves down for several years while other kids their age around the world go on with simpler, safer lives. Somehow, like Yitzchak, they, too, see what the others do not see, they perceive the mountain of Hashem that must be climbed.
It is in their great z’chut that the foundation of the future – and the final Bet HaMikdash - is being built here & now. May we & they "walk together" as we proceed to Geula Shlema.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
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)
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
