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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- The Life of Tzaddikim
- Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
Rabbi Eliyahu warned the rabbi how dangerous and problematic his method was, begging him to cease and desist, but the man paid no attention. Rabbi Eliyahu finally came up with a solution. He asked if he could check the names of the rabbi and his wife. When he made the calculations, he discovered that the couple — this rabbi and his wife — were completely unsuitable for one another. When Rabbi Eliyahu showed the rabbi his calculations, he told him he must divorce his wife because the numbers just didn't match up.
The rabbi was understandably shaken to the core. He clutched his head, crying, "How can I do that? I have eight children! How can I divorce my wife?"
Rabbi Eliyahu answered, "You don’t need to divorce her — but you can't continue to tell other couples to get divorced based on arbitrary, meaningless numbers and calculations." This time the rabbi listened.
Another time, an engaged couple approached Rabbi Eliyahu in tears. They had planned to marry, but their parents had sent them to a certain "rabbi" to have their names checked. He did so, announcing that they weren’t suited to one another. He advised them to break their engagement. The couple was completely distraught; they liked one another and truly believed they had found the right one.
Rabbi Eliyahu was terribly distressed and immediately summoned the rabbi and the parents of the bride and groom. Despite the other rabbi's discomfort, he refused to retract what he had said. So in the presence of the couple, the rabbi, and both sets of parents, Rabbi Eliyahu took the names of the young man and woman. Then he asked the girl's mother if her daughter had another name. She said that when her daughter was very young they had called her by a different name.
The rabbi who had forbidden the marriage meanwhile went pale. "Wait," he said, making calculations with pen and paper, "I didn't realize she had another name! If that's the case, then the formula is completely different and they can marry each other."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
