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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- The Life of Tzaddikim
- Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
The rise of Ayatollah Khomeini to power caused a huge wave of anti-Semitism against Israel and against Jews in general. Many Jews in Iran, mostly wealthy ones, were tried in in the kangaroo courts of the revolution, where they were sentenced to death by hanging and their property confiscated and given to Khomeini’s people.
In such an atmosphere of anarchy the lives of the Jews there were turned upside down. In particular, the Jewish women suffered. When they had to go to the mikveh, the non-Jews would harass and bother them, turning their lives into a nightmare.
The situation came to the ears of Rabbi Eliyahu, who turned directly to Ayatollah Khomeini by way of a formal letter from the State of Israel. The Rav wrote to the Ayatollah that he was sure he wouldn’t do anything against a person’s faith or against the word of God. He was sure that Khomeini would agree that it wasn’t right or fair that a woman should be harassed on her way to immerse in a mikveh, and he was sure that such things had been done without his authority, as he was an honest, decent man, etc….
Khomeini’s people were rather suspicious of the letter, but the Ayatollah wanted to see what Rav Eliyahu had written.
He read about the problems that the Muslims were causing the Jewish women and immediately ordered a new mikveh to be built for them, and in addition, he even placed guards on site so as to prevent the Muslim men bothering them.
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.
