YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ekev
My Bar Mitzva parsha was scheduled to be parshat Pinchas. But, sadly, my Zayde passed away & my mother was in her 11th month of aveilut when I turned 13 & so our rav, David Lieberman zt"l (who would later become chief rabbi of Antwerp) advised the family to wait a month, so that festivities then could be held with no restrictions. As a result, I was Bar-Mitzvahed (yes, it's also a verb) on parshat Ekev, known widely as Parshat Eretz Yisrael. It was an early sign that I would have the z'chut to live in Israel, the only member of my immediate family to do so.
This Sedra is the key to understanding, appreciating & surviving the challenge of Aliya. A few insights:
"œV'Zacharta et kal ha-derech;" you shall remember all the road. Hashem laid out a path for us: It began in Gan Eden - which by tradition is in Israel - & the 1st command given to the first Jew, Avraham, was to pick up & move here. Though we would stray from that road numerous times, there was always only one final destination. So, it's crucial to keep your eye on the road!
It is an "œEretz Tova," a good land. But can a land be "œgood?!" No land can – except the Land of Israel. It has a life of its own; it "œbehaves" when we treat it well & perform Mitzvot upon it, but it reacts harshly when we dishonor it with our poor behavior or sinful conduct. It has both œbika'a & har, valleys & mountains: here we may, unfortunately, experience war & terror, the lowest of lows, but we also will celebrate the highest highs as well.
"œLo techsar kol ba," you will lack for nothing. Israel, as small as it may be, has a bit of everything: sun, sea, sand, even snow. The pasuk highlights the plentiful bounty of the earth, including fruits & vegetables, iron & copper, & we can now add natural gas, even oil to the list. It's a question of our ability to appreciate all that we have here, and not always look over our "global shoulder."
But all this comes with a caveat: "œLo b'miskanut tochal ba lechem," do not eat your daily bread like a œ"miskayn," with gripes, complaints & negativity. Learn to appreciate the miracle right before our "eyes; just note the nations that surround us on all sides & envy all that we have built & how amazingly well we live.
"œV'achalta v'savata," go, eat, be satisfied with what you have, & then there is only one thing left to do: "œU'varachta et Hashem Elokecha al ha-aretz ha-tova asher natan lach," bless Hashem for this amazing land that G-d gave us.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
