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Beit Midrash
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Words have a power all their own; in fact, words create reality! So the Torah says: "All that comes out of our mouth, we shall do." And so when we make a promise, we are bound to keep it. That is why the Hebrew word for "word" is "mila" – which connects to brit mila. We "write a covenant" each time we utter a pledge or a promise.
Words can be wonderfully constructive: we can use them to pray, to study, to bless or to complement others, to spread wisdom by teaching that which we have learned. But words can also be destructive, such as when we disparage or slander others, when we curse, or when we let our anger get the best of us & say something harsh.
In our Sedra, Moshe loses his temper when he learns that the army officers leading the war against Midian spared the Midianite women, who had seduced the Jewish men. As a result of this outburst of anger, Moshe momentarily forgot the specifics of the laws of kashering (the captured vessels of the Midianites) & so Elazar HaKohen had to teach these laws to the nation. Says Rashi: "Anger will always lead to mistakes."
I would argue that righteous indignation is a positive side of anger; we should get riled up when we see injustice or inequality, & do something about it. But most anger is unhealthy & unproductive, & can only injure us. I want to suggest that abiding anger comes from 3 primary places:
First, it stems from an inflated ego. When we think that everything is coming to us, we tend to get mad when things don’t go our way. A modest person is much more inclined to "go with the flow" than a conceited individual.
Anger also connects to jealousy. When we see someone accomplishing something that we feel we could be doing, we get frustrated, & this leads to anger. When we sense that we’ve not lived up to our own potential, we tend to lash out, as a way of deflecting our disappointment with ourselves, & this is expressed in angry words or actions.
Finally, anger indicates a basic lack of faith. Once we do our best, then we have to trust that whatever happens to us is from Hashem, & for the best. We all have had things happen to us that seemed bad, yet turned out well.
So lower your pride, lift your faith, & let your anger go!
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Army and War "If Haredim Should Serve in the IDF, So Should You"
IDF Service for Young Jewish Men from America
Army and War "If Haredim Should Serve in the IDF, So Should You"
IDF Service for Young Jewish Men from America
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.
