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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayigash
Now, Hashem comes to Yaakov – for the first time in 22 years – in a "vision of the night," & promises him, "Anochi eyred imcha Mitzrayma, v’anochi a’alcha gam aloh;" I will both descend with you into Egypt, & also raise you back up (to Israel). Yaakov must balance two most conflicting emotions: on the one hand, he does not want to leave Israel - perhaps he prophetically senses that, despite Hashem’s pledge to him, he will live out the rest of his days in Egypt, & only return to the Holy Land in a casket.
On the other hand, he is desperate to be reunited with Yosef, not only to see his beloved son alive – a miracle come true! – but also to know that at long last his family will again be complete & whole. Fittingly, the Torah’s narrative at this point pauses to list Yaakov’s genealogy & name all seventy of his family members who will be accompanying him to Egypt – kal nefesh banav u’v’notav.
This desire for family unity drives Yaakov forward & gives him the strength, at the advanced age of 130, to make the grueling journey to Egypt, where he will spend the remaining 17 years of his life with his entire family.
A bit of gematriya reinforces how special this time was for Yaakov. The combined numerical value of the two Parshiyot in which Yakov is together with all his loved ones, Vayigash & Vayechi, totals 353. This is the same number as the word "Goshen," the place where the family lived during all those years, as well as the word, "simcha, happiness." Living together in Goshen, it would seem, was a great joy for patriarch Yaakov.
Yaakov’s predicament & mixed emotions are so relevant to the world we Jews live in today. For many of us, our burning desire to accept Hashem’s gift to us & enjoy the blessing of living in Israel – not to mention fulfilling a fundamental Mitzva of the Torah – is tinged by sadness & regret that many of our family, personal as well as universal, are not here to share in this miracle together with us.
Perhaps that is why, when asked by Paro how old he was, Yakov replies, "few & bad have been the days of the years of my life." Yaakov, I suggest, understood that true happiness can only come when all our extended family finally lives together in the redeemed Land of Israel b’b’a’.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.