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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Kdoshim
These opening words of our Sedra constitute the quint-essential "mission statement" of the Jewish People: Be holy throughout your life. But what does "holy" mean?
Some sources connect holiness with separateness; i.e. we should maintain a distinction from all other peoples on Earth, consecrating ourselves to a unique way of life & devoting ourselves solely to Hashem. They associate the word "kodesh" with "hekdash," a term that refers to offerings (animal sacrifices, monetary donations to the Bet HaMikdash, etc) that have been designated for a specific spiritual purpose & so may not be used for anything that is mundane or secular.
This is the reason why some Jews engage exclusively in "religious practices" such as Torah study or prayer, considering other pursuits as "bitul z’man" or a waste of our precious time; why they live in closed communities that shun any contact with the outside world & why they associate only with "their own kind," unless forced to do otherwise for compelling financial or health reasons.
That is certainly one strategy.
But our parsha is filled with Mitzvot – commandments – that discuss interaction with the world at large & the way in which we must act as we interface with others. These include dealing honestly in business dealings by maintaining accurate weights & measures (one of only 3 Mitzvot that promise long life); reserving a place in our fields for the poor; paying workers on time; refraining from misleading another person; not bearing a grudge or taking revenge on another; loving the convert; indeed, loving all of those around us, even as we love ourselves.
How can we fulfill all these mitzvoth, & so many more, if we lock ourselves in a virtual closet?
I suggest that Hashem created the world as an ultimate "training center." He could have made us all uniform, like-minded people who live totally identical lives. But that would frustrate His overall goal – molding our neshamot to their highest level of perfection. And so He created the possibility of poverty, to see how we respond to the needy; situations of social or sexual temptation, to see if we can control our urges & hold back our desires; & even war, to test if we’ll actively fight evil or just try to avoid it.
Kedusha, in short, is something you not only must learn, but something you must earn.
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.
