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So what does kohanim mean for those who do not descend from Aharon? In the parallel pasuk in Divrei Hayamim (I:18:17), it says that "the sons of David were the first ones, next to the king." In fact, the Targum Yonatan to Shmuel says that the sons of David "were powerful officers," and Rashi, Mahari Kara, the Radak, and the Ralbag follow this approach. Interestingly, Rashi and the Rashbam (his grandson) explained the reference to Bnei Yisrael as "a nation of kohanim" (Shemot 19:6) as sarim (officers); they invoke the pasuk in Shmuel as corroboration. The Ralbag adds an educational, ethical lesson. The fact that David made his sons powerful was a contributing factor to Avshalom’s decision to rebel and to the killing of Amnon and Adoniyahu. In general, he claimed that David was not sufficiently successful in his moral supervision of his sons.
The Ri of Trani explains that generally kohanim refers to a governmental position more than a religious one. He brings as support the fact that Yitro was called the kohen of Midian (Shemot 18:1). [Of course, there is a strong current in Chazal that Yitro was a religious figure in Midian and that contributed to the fact that Moshe’s descendant was a priest for idol worship (see Shoftim 18:30).
The Radak explains that kohanim can refer to Torah scholars, based on the following statement of Chazal. Rava says that a Torah scholar can ask to have his monetary case adjudicated ahead of his position on line in honor of his status (Nedarim 62a). The source that this is reasonable is the pasuk about the sons of David being kohanim, from which they derive that just as a kohen receives the first portion, so too a Torah scholar deserves to be prioritized. (We caution that in our days, such a request is liable to cause a desecration of Hashem’s Name. We strengthen this with a story about our mentor, Rav Shaul Yisraeli, an outstanding Torah scholar by any measure. When assuming the shopping duties when his wife was sick, he would not agree when people offered him to skip their place on line.)
We also suggest that those of David’s sons who were the firstborn of their mothers had leading roles in the service of Hashem in public altars (after the Mishkan was destroyed and before the Beit Hamikdash was built). In that way, they could have been like kohanim in terms of their work. We can also take a step forward and suggest that when David was described as "being fastened with an apron of fabric" (Shmuel II:6:14), when he was bringing the ark to Yerushalayim, it was referring to him acting in preparation for the eventual building of the Mikdash (by his son). Only after the Beit Hamikdash was built, did wearing a kohen-like garment become problematic in a service-promoting context.
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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.
