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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
Our Sedra is known as Parshat Hamit’lon’nim, of the Complainers. Our downward spiral as a nation from an exalted People who received the Torah directly from G-d, to a wandering generation destined to die out in the desert, began with our grousing. We kvetched about the hardships of traveling in the desert; about the lack of meat & water; even about the miraculous Mahn that fell from the heavens & had any taste imaginable.
Moshe, our loyal defense attorney, tries to present our case in a positive light. He refers to us being "on foot," hinting to G-d that walking through the brutal desert was no simple thing & we could be excused for bemoaning our hardship. He says "asher Anochi b’kirbo;" literally, Anochi (i.e. Hashem) is still among the nation, that when all is said & done, we still are a holy, G-dly people.
But Moshe is also stressing - by saying "Asher anochi b'kirbo - and I am among the nation" - that he is but a part of the general community of Am Yisrael. I want to elaborate on this simple yet sublime sentence.
When Bnei Yisrael complain about the desert fare, about what they miss most from their days in Egypt, they davka single out 5 specific foods: cucumbers, leeks, onions, garlic & watermelon. What do these 5 have in common? Rashi says that these foods are dangerous for nursing mothers. And so, although the Mahn could taste like whatever food one imagined, it could not taste like these 5 items, so as not to bring harm to the nursing women.
Asks the Lubavitcher Rebbe: Why deny the entire nation these foods, if they negatively affected only a minority? Why not just prevent the Mahn from tasting like these foods for only the nursing mothers, but not for everyone else?
He answers: The nursing mothers, who are nurturing the new generation that will enter Israel, might be distressed to see others eating those foods which they desire, yet cannot eat. So, to empathize with their feelings, all the people must sacrifice their enjoyment of those things.
A true leader, like Moshe, is sensitive to the needs of everyone, not just himself. He lets it be known that he will not enjoy any special privileges or protected position that is denied his people. He may be the leader, but he is still one of us. Indeed, it was his very insistence on being one of us - when he left the Egyptian palace to "join his brothers" - that qualified him to be our leader in the first place!
Leaders, present or future, are you listening??
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.