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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Pinchas
"As you refused My word in the Desert of Tzin at the quarrelling of the congregation to sanctify Me with the water before their eyes; these are the waters of quarrelling of Kadesh in the Desert of Tzin" (Bamidbar 27:14). Why does the Torah give a name to the waters which happen to be the setting for a fateful sin and stress where it took place? The order of the pasuk is also difficult as it seems to indicate that the quarrelling of the congregation was to sanctify Hashem. Although Moshe may have over-reacted to the people’s complaints of lack of water, they certainly did not seem to be sanctifying Hashem with their complaints. The Ibn Ezra answers the second question simply by saying that the pasuk is indeed to be understood as out of order. The sanctifying of Hashem goes on the beginning of the pasuk. Moshe and Aharon refused (according to Unkelus’ translation) to sanctify Hashem. Even if the direct meaning is as Ibn Ezra posits, one can still ask if the Torah’s order is meant to indicate a second level of understanding.
Returning to the first question, Rashi gives two separate, almost opposite explanations of the stress of "the water of quarrelling of Kadesh." One is that it is meant to prompt us to infer that this was a unique event, for only here did Moshe sin. The second explanation is that this was one of three occurrences of a similar phenomenon related to water. As the Siftei Chachamim explains Rashi, these were the same Bnei Yisrael who caused problems at the waters of Marah, where they complained of thirst, and at the [Red] Sea, where they complained about the apparent, impending doom at the hands of the Egyptians. The second explanation seems difficult. First of all, Moshe’s shortcoming, not the nation’s, is the subject of this section, as it explains why he did not enter the Land. Secondly, it is historically questionable. After all, the generation of Marah and the Sea had all but died out by the time Moshe sinned at the rock.
Rashi is indeed elucidating Moshe’s failure by explaining that Bnei Yisrael, although comprising new individuals, were acting a similar way to their predecessors when struck by fear of thirst or death. At Marah and the Sea, Moshe followed Hashem’s instruction with a confidence that the people’s fear would turn into a means of sanctifying Hashem when they would be saved; at the rock, he did not. However, the people were paradoxically providing Moshe the opportunity to sanctify as the strange order of the pasuk hints.
It is difficult but important to remember that not only happy national events but even difficult ones have the potential to boomerang into an opportunity to see Hashem’s Hand positively.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
