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Beit Midrash
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As we enter the new month of Shvat, it is appropriate to take a look at a verse from Isaiah 66 - the haftarah reading when Sabbath and the New Month coincide – which refers indirectly to this month's holiday: Tu B'Shvat, the New Year for Trees.
The verse, at first glance, is tremendously puzzling: "For, as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making, stand before Me, says the Lord, so shall your seed and your name stand" (66,22). One who read this verse understands that G-d will expand the world, will build a new heaven and a new earth, and Israel's generations will never cease forever.
How is such a thing conceivable? Will there then be a new world, with new heavens and a new earth, to which Israel will be relocated and then last forever?!
Many commentaries have been written on this verse, and the Medrash Yalkut Shimoni cites several of them. However, the Radak (R. David ben Kimchi, France, d. 1235), ignored all the other explanations and provided his own. To understand it, let us begin with the following story. A nice and gentle man got married and had a son, whom he loved mightily with all his heart. When he would leave every day for morning prayers, he would look at the boy with overpowering love, and would say, "My son! How cute you are, how beloved!" He would then embrace and kiss him. Upon his return from the synagogue, he would see him and again exclaim, "My child, how I love you!" while kissing and hugging him. And so he would do every day.
One day his father-in-law came to visit, saw how his son-in-law behaved to the child, and asked, "What's this?" The young father answered, "For me it's as if he was just born today; my love for him is renewed each day as if it were totally new, and that's why I love him so much." The father-in-law said, "I see. OK, we'll give it another year or two, and then you'll be over it…" But of course the young father continued along the same path.
We recite about G-d in our morning prayers, "He renews in His goodness every day, always, the act of Creation." G-d created His world, as we see – but we don't really look. Today's sky is not the same as yesterday's. We arise in the morning, look around outside, and see the earth flowering and the trees growing – but every day is different. You can go out each day and see a new growth, as if it were Tu B'Shvat each day!
We should know that when we speak of G-d's renewing "in His goodness every day, always, the act of Creation," we mean that it is as if He constantly fashions a new heaven and a new earth; He will not destroy the old world, but it will rather look as if it is new. And this is how our children will be forever to Him – as beloved as if we were just now born to Him! G-d's love for us will always remain before Him; everything is new, nothing is the same old thing as it was before. O Nation of Israel: your descendants and name will last forever and ever.
Another explanation of this verse – it is cited in the Yalkut Shimoni – is that when G-d created His world, He considered that, in fact, He would create new heavens and a new earth, and that Israel would remain as it is. And the Medrash states there that if the heavens and earth, which were created for Israel's honor, last forever, how much more so is this true for the tzaddikim [and Israel], for whom the world was created, that they will last forever.
In any event, the Nation of Israel will be in existence for all time. As the verse states: As the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me, so shall your seed and your name stand."
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
