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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ekev
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Asher Ben Haim
According to the Torah, the most difficult times are those that don't present us with problems or troubles.
The first threat is the natural goodness of the land and its resources. The grain and produce, the oil and honey, all present us with something to fear. The second threat is success. The homes that we build in the land, along with all our material accomplishments, should be viewed with apprehension. For it is during times of success that we are most likely to forget Hashem and turn to other gods - or credit the success to ourselves - ignoring His goodness and generosity that brought us to this place.
How are we to protect ourselves from these dangers?
The Torah makes several suggestions. Birkat ha-Mazon, which focuses on the land of Israel and its produce, is one of them. It is a recurring statement that helps us recognize Hashem's role in the food we eat and remember who it is that deserves the credit. Similarly, remembering the difficult moments of our history in the desert and how Hashem brought us to Eretz Yisrael brings us to realize that we are always in need of His attention and support.
We find ourselves blessed today; we live in interesting times. Jews in both Israel and the Diaspora find themselves in better economic and social circumstances than we have been in generations, a situation that is reminiscent of what the Torah describes. It is at such a time that we must recognize both where we belong and by what right we deserve to be there.
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Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
