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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
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.