YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Beshalach
The attribute of kingdom is the last among seven important characteristics in Jewish thought. There is a kabbalistic idea that a king having nothing of his own. Therefore, we can conclude that the basic quality of a king is to be humble. Humility can come on different planes. We will present one example where this finds expression.
Yehuda received kingdom for the tribe that came from him because he approached the then disguised Yosef and agreed to give up everything on behalf of the important value of unity between the brothers. In an effort to receive atonement for the sale of Yosef as a slave, he was ready to volunteer to serve as a slave for the viceroy of Egypt in order to free his younger brother Binyamin from that fate and enable him to return to his father. Yehuda was willing to give up even his ability to rule over himself and control his life in order to create a life of morality, bereft of selfishness or elitism. He was willing to become a nothing.
As we have seen in previous installments, Kalev asked for the land around Chevron, which Moshe had promised him. He also hinted at his expectation of leadership and even referred, in talking to Yehoshua, to what Moshe had said "about me and about you," putting himself before Yehoshua. However, even as great a man as Kalev, who relied on Hashem without fear from the challenges of conquering the Land, including the giants, needed a basic building block of the level of leadership he sought – humility.
This is in contrast to the person from the Tribe of Yehuda who ended up receiving the kingdom, David. David said: "I am a worm and not a man, a disgrace of a person and despised by the nation" (Tehillim 22:7). The gemara (Chulin 89a) praises Bnei Yisrael as possessing the attribute of minimizing their self-value even when Hashem bestows greatness upon them, and they give the above pasuk as evidence of that trait.
The kingdom of mankind is liable to weaken regard for divine dominion, and monarchal humility minimizes this danger. For this reason, Yishai describes David, whom he had not presented to Shmuel, as "the small one was left" (Shmuel I 16:11), even though David was not the youngest of Yishai’s sons. Rather he was the one who treated himself as the least significant. It is therefore not surprising that we never find David putting his personal interest before that of the nation.
Two mashiachs will liberate Israel on the "appointed day" – Mashiach the Son of Yosef and Mashiach the Son of David. These are representatives of what the prophet Yechezkel calls the "tree of Yosef" and the "tree of Yehuda."
When we need to choose a leader, we must look for a person who is capable and has proven that he acts in the way that is needed. This is a primary requirement. Among those who meet that requirement, it is necessary to choose the "small one," who minimizes his own persona and certainly does not try to lower his competitors’ stature. A proper leader values the needs of the nation over his own!
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)
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)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
