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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Bechukotai
After detailing the Blessings and Curses, the parsha relates the law of Temura: If one designates an animal to for an offering, then substitutes that animal for another, both animals become holy & must be used as offerings. Chazal explain: When something is made kadosh, its holiness can never be removed. Attempting to do so will fail, & both animals will then achieve an exalted status.
Rav Pam zt"l sees in this law a message for Jewish history: Every time the nations of the world seek to limit or destroy the kedusha of Am Yisrael, they not only fail, but there is a noticeable expansion of that kedusha!
In Egypt, attempts to break our spirit & then kill us off resulted in our growing exponentially; "as they oppressed us, so we multiplied." On Purim, Haman’s plot to wipe us out backfired on him, we triumphed, & many non-Jews joined our people, including even descendants of Haman! And, in our own days, the Nazis & their many murderous accomplices devoted all of their energy trying to kill us, but we survived & we went on to flourish in the Diaspora, as well as to create the State of Israel.
Terrorist groups defame & try to destroy us. But B"H the result is that we’ve grown 10-fold in just 6 decades & built a powerful, prosperous nation. Our population of 9.5 million is projected to be over 11 million by the year 2030. We have the highest fertility rate in the OECD & the high-est number of multiple births per capita of any country; 191,000 babies were born here in the last year! We are the single largest Jewish community in the world & fast approaching (if we’re not there already!) constituting the majority of the world’s Jews. Israel’s vast proliferation of Yeshivot is the embodiment of the blessing, Ki MiTzion Tetze Torah, & we are an inspiration for millions.
We conclude Sefer Vayikra this Shabbat with the words Chazak, Chazak, V'Nitchazek; we should be strengthened by appreciating that all the evil launched against us is doomed to failure. Instead of harming us, it will result in our becoming a stronger, safer, more prosperous People.
"Temura" has the same letters of both trauma & Teruma: The trauma threatened by our enemies only leads to the Teruma, the contribution we bring to the world, & ultimately contributes to our triumph. Am Yisrael Chai!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
