YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Vayakhel
Among the first to step up to give in their jewelry for the golden objects - such as the Menora & the Aron Kodesh - were the women. This contrasted sharply to what had occurred in last week's Sedra, when Bnei Yisrael decided to fashion a Golden Calf. Then, the ladies had balked & absolutely refused to part with their jewelry for the idol.
For this show of loyalty to Hashem, the women were rewarded with the mitzva of Rosh Chodesh, when they would traditionally have a day off & not work (& their husbands would take them out to dinner!).
Now, you may ask, "Why should the women be rewarded for holding on to their rings & bracelets & necklaces?! It’s only natural that they should want to keep them!"
Well, for one thing this episode proves yet again that women have a much deeper spirituality than men, intuitively understanding when it was a Mitzva to give over the jewelry, & when it was a Mitzva not to do so. (Just as they knew it was a Mitzva to keep having children during the slavery period, when the men thought it was a sin to bring new life into such a tormented time).
But it also brings home an important lesson to us: Sometimes, the best thing a person can do is: Nothing! When it’s appropriate, just hold back, abstain, be silent or passive. By refusing to join the mob mentality, the women made a powerful statement: For a sin, don’t count us in!
Note that in Jewish life, abstaining from sin is the first step to a G-dly existence. That is why Hillel told the convert who approached him, "That which is hateful to you, do not do to others." Why did Hillel frame this in a negative, rather than a positive way? (i.e. "That which you would like others to do for you, do to them"). It was to teach us that the first step to doing good is abstaining from evil, which is infinitely easier to accomplish than performing a positive act, which takes effort & energy.
That is why the majority of Mitzvot – 365 – are in the category of Lo Ta’ase, "Thou shalt not" commandments, as opposed to the 248 Aseh, or positive Mitzvot. Every time we don’t murder, don’t purposely eat bugs, don’t commit adultery, we gain merit, as G-d wants us to do, & are rewarded for our non-effort.
Sometimes, you see, nothing can really be something!!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
