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Beit Midrash
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When a loved one dies, we are accustomed to pray, "May he/she rest in peace." But what is most important is that a person makes peace with himself before he dies, that he ties up all the loose ends in his life so that he can close the shop & his neshama can transition to Life Eternal.
All his life, Yakov has agonized over one central event: the B’Chora. Did he act properly when he wrested the blessing from his father by subterfuge? Did he really deserve to become the leader of the nation & the father of his country? Or is he a "heel," as his name implies?
And so, when Yakov calls for his two grandchildren in order to bless them, he does a rather strange thing: he reverses his hands & diagonally extends his right hand – the one symbolizing the primary blessing – toward Efraim, who was on his left side. In doing this, he is vividly replaying the scene of the B’chora, where the key bracha is surprisingly given to the younger son.
When Menashe, the elder, issues no protest & accepts the decision, Yakov innately knows that his actions have been validated, that he was right in believing that Jewish leadership is a meritocracy, not an aristocracy.
That this episode connects to the B’chora is made clear by mentioning that Yakov, like Yitzchak, is blind, & that an angel will bless the boys, just as an angel wrestled with Yakov & then blessed him with the name Yisrael, thus validating his actions vis a vis Esav those many years ago. Now, Yakov’s soul can rest at peace.
Yosef must deal with his own crisis: Does he hold any grudge against his brothers for what they did to him? And did he do right by bringing his entire nation to Egypt, a land infamous for immorality & depravity? Should he rather have sent them provisions, instead of taking them into a long Exile?
Yosef finally will conclude that, "Elokim chashva l’tova," whatever G-d does, He does for the good, & that this was all a necessary part of our eternal journey. And in his last words to his people, he assures them they will, they must return to Israel; no matter how privileged a life they may lead in Goshen that cannot be our home. And he makes his family swear an oath that they will take him with them when they do go. As Yosef takes his final breath, you can almost hear him confidently proclaim: "Chazak, Chazak, V’Nitchazek" – be strong, & strengthen one another.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
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.
