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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Chayei Sara
But hold on, the Torah tells us in this Parsha; there is still one more hurdle, one more challenge before Avraham can finally relax & recede into the background: he must secure a proper resting-place for his beloved wife, Sara. And so he gets up from Shiva & begins to negotiate with the Hittites for the burial site that would forever become known as "Ma’arat HaMachpela," the double-layer cave in which were interred four couples (the others being Adam/Chava, Yitzchak/Rivka & Yakov/Leah).
Ephron the Hittite is a sharp negotiator; he first tells Avraham that he can have the place for free. But when Avraham insists that it must be inviolable, eternal Jewish land, the price suddenly skyrockets to four hundred shekels. This, say the commentators (from the unusual term, "Ohver La’socher") indicates a form of internationally-recognized currency, & so the actual amount is in the millions of shekels, by today’s standards.
Why does Avraham feel the need to spend so much money? Jews, after all, are buried in cemeteries throughout the known world. Why davka here? Furthermore, this was land that was promised to be given to Avraham & his future descendants by Hashem (which is why Lot saw no problem with his animals grazing on the land), so eventually he would have the plot anyway. So why not be patient & save a whole lot of money?
And even if Avraham did legally buy it, who is to say that the inhabitants who lived there – then or in the future – would admit & acknowledge it? They might lie & say that it was always there’s, that the contract was forged, or some other excuse.
But the point here should be obvious to us: Avraham was sending a clear message to us, and to all the generations of Jews to come: "This Land is priceless, valuable beyond estimation, and so we must be prepared to pay a very high price to take it, & to keep it."
We have reclaimed the Land of Israel, but we have paid, & are still paying, a very high price to sustain it. We had to fight the Arabs even when this was "no-man’s land." We had to battle 7 nations that converged against us in 1948. We had to fight "official" wars in 1956, in 1967 & in 1973, & "unofficial" battles in the Gulf War, against Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Gaza & in Yehuda & Shomron.
And now we have a full-fledged war against the Hamas barbarians, not only in Gaza but wherever they spread their venomous tentacles. And a war in Iran is not far off. We pay dearly in these wars - even one precious soul lost outweighs all the terrorists we kill. But we have to know 1 essential thing: Israel costs a lot because Israel is the most valuable thing the Jewish People can ever 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)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
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)
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: 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)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
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
