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Beit Midrash
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- Rosh Hashana
- Shofar Blowing
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Revital Bat Lea
Some rabbinic authorities (the Rosh and the Tur) explain that this is also the reason that we blow the Shofar during the entire month of Elul. Throughout the year, the Satan confuses our opinions, thoughts, and beliefs. Our task during the month of Elul is to make sense of this confusion.
Confusion is one of the consequences of the destruction of the Holy Temple, as the sages say, "Ever since the destruction of the Holy Temple, the sages began to be like school teachers, school teachers like synagogue attendants, synagogue attendants like common people, and the common people became more and more debased" (Sotah 49a). Everything was shaken up. Even the common people lost there status. The goal of Elul is to resolve this confusion, and this is why we blow the Shofar.
During the month of Elul we recite twice daily the words "One thing I asked of God, this shall I seek - that I dwell in the House of God all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of God and to contemplate His Sanctuary" (Psalms 27:4). One thing I asked and no more - no confusion. There must be a single desire, and no more. One must be as decisive in his desire to dwell in the House of God as our ancestors were to receive the Tablets of the Covenant in the month of Elul.
We learn this idea from the words of the Torah, "See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil . . . therefore choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19). We must choose life and not fluctuate indecisively. Only where there is a foundation of "one" is there the sweetness of Torah.
Each one of us senses this confusion, and the task of the month Elul is to wage war upon it. The verse "One thing I asked of God, etc." represents the essence of our spiritual task. "That I dwell in the House of God all the days of my life," this alone and nothing else. No confusion. When this is the case, Divine assistance is granted, and it is in this sense that Elul is considered a time of Divine favor.
At the beginning of the same Psalm 27, it is written, "Though war would arise against me, in this I trust." The commentator R' Avraham Ibn Ezra explains that the words "in this" refer to the continuation the following verse - "One thing I asked of God." This single request is what provides us with trust and security.
May it be God's will that our prayers become the desire of the entire Jewish people for the coming year.
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Some of the translated Psalms in the above article were taken from or based upon the Artscroll Psalms. Other verses and Talmudic sources were taken from or based upon Davka's Soncino Judaic Classics Library (CD-Rom).
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
