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Beit Midrash
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Yet suddenly, Hashem puts the 10 Plagues on hold. He interrupts the process of Redemption in order to issue His first decree to Bnei Yisrael as a nation: "This month (of Nisan) will be for you the first of months." Our calendar, like Jewish life itself, is starting anew, and so we will now begin counting our months from Nisan, even though the world was created in Tishrei, six months prior.
But why pause to make this decree, rather than first concluding the Makot & only then establishing a New Jewish Order? Would that not have made more sense?
I think the answer lies in a statement Hashem makes just before He issues the command to re-order the calendar: "L’ma’an tayd’un asher yafleh Hashem bayn Mitzrayim u’vayn Yisrael; so that you shall know that G-d has differentiated between Egypt & Israel."
Rashi helps us by defining the unusual word, "yafleh" as "differentiated." But clearly, the word also connects to "peleh," which means wonder, or miracle.
I want to suggest that Hashem here is making a grand statement about the nature of His relationship with the Jewish People, as well as hinting as to how we are to proceed towards ultimately fulfilling our eternal destiny.
Hashem is telling us that there is a structured, systematic procedure for us to follow in normal, Halachic life. We will studiously observe the moon; that will allow us to "set up" each month, so we can designate our Chagim during the next 30 days, as well as establish our seasons. The sun will guide us as to when we rise for morning prayers & when we recite evening Tefilot; it will also tell us when Shabbat begins & ends. These universal objects are not ours alone; we share them with all humanity, but we utilize them for our own specific Jewish purposes.
Yet the natural world is not our boundary. We are also a people of wonders, witnesses to miraculous events & recipients of Divine assistance from above that defy logic, science & rationality. There is no rational explanation as to how we could have survived – no, flourished! - all these centuries against such staggering odds, outlasting mighty empires along the way that sought our demise.
Our very existence is a peleh, a wonder. To the knowing eye, it is as clear as the moon & as bright as the sun.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.