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Beit Midrash
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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!!
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(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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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)
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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.
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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.
