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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
And the dove came to him at eventide and in her mouth was an olive leaf freshly plucked; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. Genesis 8:11
From where did the dove bring the olive leaf? Rabbi Levi son of Kahana says from Eretz Yisrael; Rabbi Levi says from the Mount of Olives. For the Land of Israel was not flooded in the deluge. (Midrash Rabba)
Following are comments of my saintly teacher, Rabbi Mordechai Rogov which elucidate the Midrash:
The olive leaf brought back to Noah carried with it the good tidings that the Flood waters had receded from the earth. With the end of the Flood, a new world would be built. This symbol came specifically from the Holy Land. The message was that there was a small corner of the earth which was unaffected by the Flood, a place where plants continued to blossom and trees produce there fruit. The olive leaf announced to Noah that there was a spot on the planet which was saved from the ravages of the Flood, a spot free from the impurities and degradation of the generation of the Flood. It is from this pure place that rebirth and rectification will come to the entire world. The Holy Land will be the place where the cornerstone will be set for a new and better world.
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Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
