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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Tazria
At first glance, this is almost a trivial task, as Chazal teach us that the main cause of tzara’at is lashon hara, one of the most basic interpersonal sins (Arachin 16b). We can sharpen the picture, though, by looking at the life of King Uziya, one of history’s most prominent lepers. Uziya entered the Beit Hamikdash to offer ketoret (incense) on the altar, which was forbidden for him as a non-kohen, despite rebuke from the kohanim (Divrei Hayamim II, 26:19). This also hints at a connection to Nadav and Avihu, whose story bookends the parasha of tzara’at, in that they each brought ketoret improperly and were severely punished. The parasha that follows tzara’at deals with the service of the kohen gadol. Prominent among his tasks was bringing ketoret, and Uziya did not give sufficient deference to him.
The period of Uziya was one of the brightest points in our history, in some ways seeming like the days of Mashiach. It included the following elements of success (see Tzofnat Yeshayahu, p. 162-4). 1): The service of Hashem was largely kept in the palace and among the people; 2) All of the Jewish people were living in Eretz Yisrael; 3) The king was from the House of David; 4) The king won all the battles he fought; 5) The boundaries of Eretz Yisrael were fully in the hands of Bnei Yisrael (albeit broken up among two kingdoms); 6) Eretz Yisrael was blooming from an agricultural perspective; 7) Am Yisrael was respected throughout the world; 8) The Beit Hamikdash was standing.
So why, in these ideal times, was King Uziya afflicted with tzara’at? The ills of this time are discussed by two prophets: Amos, throughout his sefer, and Yeshayahu in ch. 1-6, as Chazal tell us that the sefer begins at the time that Uziya was stricken.
Both prophets describe social corruption that festered and spread throughout the nation, from north to south. This corruption had a corrosive effect, both in Judea and in the Northern Kingdom. In the midst of a period of plenty, the wealthy were not satiated but were hungry for more and more, including by taking the little that was left in the hands of the weak. The judicial system was also compromised, and by and large, it supported the powerful and the "elite" against the weak and lowly. The judges, officers, and the rich, buoyed by the support of the intellectual elite, were responsible for this corruption (see Yeshayahu 1:23). This, then, is the reason that Uziya was punished with tzara’at, the punishment of the sins between man and his fellow man.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.