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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Beshalach
But hidden in the text, I suggest to you, is much, much more than that; in fact, virtually all of Jewish history is encapsulated in the very first paragraph of our Sedra. So let’s now take our own journey along with Bnei Yisrael:
We read, "v’lo nacham Elokim….ki karov hu." Hashem didn’t take us on a "short cut" to Israel, but rather took the long way. Rashi says "nacham" can mean "to lead," but we know the usual meaning is "to pity, or console." I suggest G-d is telling us right from the get-go this will not be a cushy, comfy journey either to Israel, or even when we get there. It will be hard – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As Tom Hanks famously said: "If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great."
And then the Torah uses the word "chamushim." While there are many commentaries on this word, the simple translation is "armed." Simply put, we had weapons with us. We would have to organize an army & we would have to fight, for although Hashem is an "Ish Milchama," He asks that we live according to natural behavior & do our fair share, even if that means we risk our lives in battle.
The pasuk then references the "bones of Yosef" that we took with us on our voyage. Clearly, this sends the image of all our martyred people throughout the centuries who sacrificed their lives for Hashem, the nation & the land. Think the Dry Bones of Yechezkel or the bones left in the crematoria after the Shoa. They are also a part of us, & so we are reminded, "hashbe’ah, hishbiya," we took a sacred oath when we became a People that we would stand together & we would keep the Torah; G-d, for His part, would guard us eternally & bring us home to Israel.
The first place we stop at on this tiyul thru history is, fittingly, Sukkot. The Sukka is in itself a microcosm of the Jewish experience: it emphasizes the Land, where our sukka must stand; it has shaky walls much like our fragile existence; but its true essence is that which is above us.
"Hashem will lead you in a pillar of cloud by day & a pillar of fire by night." There will be pleasant times when we can leisurely watch the clouds roll by, yet other times when we must pass thru fire. G-d will be there at our side through all of it. We will survive fire, & water, & we will emerge intact on the other side, singing a song of victory & proudly proclaiming, "Hashem yimloch l’olam va-ed!"
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.
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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.
