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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.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.