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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
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The Abarbanel asks several questions on these p’sukim, of which we will bring two. One is an apparent contradiction, in that elsewhere the navi tells of the punishment that will come to the nations, who fight Bnei Yisrael at that time, whereas here the navi speaks about the nations following in Bnei Yisrael’s light, repenting, and singing out in praise of Hashem. Another question is on the pasuk that implies that those who are liberated will come to Eretz Yisrael with their riches. The Abarbanel considers this hard to believe, considering what he knew from those tossed around in exile who needed liberation, for example, after the expulsion from Spain. Since when do Jews in exile have money to bring with them?!
The Abarbanel was correct until our days, but this is no longer difficult to believe. In the merit of our holy forefathers, the situation is very different and the prophecy as prophesized is occurring before our eyes. Jews have come from the exile with their money!
We will bring the words of the early commentators on some of these p’sukim and then try to add some little extra ideas at their fringes. The pasuk about giving light, according to Targum Yonatan and the Radak, refers to Yerushalayim. According to the Ibn Ezra, it refers to the renewal of the monarchy (i.e., independence) and prophecy. Rav Shlomo Alkabetz, the protégé of Rav Yosef Karo, in his beautiful poem, Lecha Dodi, featured prominently the call to Bnei Yisrael, represented by the Queen Shabbat, to reestablish an independent Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael with Yerushalayim as its capital. This was the vision of the holy rabbis of Safed, who came to Eretz Yisrael after the expulsion from Spain with great optimism and belief in the hastening of the liberation. This was very different from the way of thinking of the Abarbanel, who experienced, first hand, the horrors of the cruel Inquisition.
"For your light has come," according to the Radak, means that the time of the liberation, which is a great light, had come. The darkness described in pasuk 2 refers to the troubles of the hostile nations, while we experience light. In recent years, we are witnesses to the great miracle of the flourishing of the State of Israel while the neighboring nations live in relative darkness. The Radak continues that the nations following in the light refers to the nations that Yeshayahu describes as seeking to go up to the mountain of the G-d of Yaakov. Indeed, we see in many ways how the nations look up to Israel for its achievements.
We should always remember that to make progress on the road toward fulfilling more and more stages in this liberation we must work on our national unity. Hashem loves united Jews!
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
