YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- The Jewish Household
All of us aspire to have those ideal families which we read about in stories. Accepting, forgiving, social and always there for each other. All too often our families fall short of this ideal, often quite short. We may disdain our family members, hold grudges against them, dread at the thought of family gatherings. We often find that we are there for total strangers before our own family members.
The Talmud of the Land of Israel teaches us of the importance of keeping loyalty and giving priority to one’s kin. It tells us a story about Rabbi Yossi Hagelili who divorced his wife because she gave him extreme aggravation and did not treat him with proper respect. The wife remarried a man who could not make ends meet and would beat and degrade her. Rabbi Yossi Hagelili gave them a house and provided for them for the rest of their lives because of the verse: "Do not turn away from your own flesh" (Isaiah 58:7). (Kethuboth 11:3)
Rabbi Yossi HaGelili’s ex-wife, is no longer his wife and the wife’s husband had never even been related to him. Yet Rabbi Yossi HaGelili’s provisions for them are not minimal (as one would expect his aggravating ex-wife would deserve); on the contrary, they are quite lavish and generous. Familial bonds, whether by prior relation or by mere association can not be dissolved!
The prohibition to turn away from a relative is a negative commandment precluding one from letting one’s kin fall, but we see from Rabbi Yossi HaGelili’s actions that it also carries with it a positive undertone, the expectation that you give your kin grace and abundance. In a sense, "Do not turn away" means "Do not treat him unlike a relative" May the commandment of "Do not turn away" compel us not just to aspire for ideal families as mere nice-to-have, but to actually achieve them as must-haves!
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)
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)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
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)
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: 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)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
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
