YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
"cliff-hangers." At the end of Parshat
Bereisheit, Hashem decided that the world was so
evil - perhaps, even worse than the Nazis, ISIS
and the Palestinians - such that G-d decided the
world had to be destroyed and there would be a
cosmic "re-boot." And so, the birth of Noach is
announced. Then, in our Sedra, the Great Flood
commences, as Noach leads his family into the
Ark, along with the animal kingdom, and they will
start life as we know it today.
But why is this story divided into two? Why not
start with Noach's birth in our Sedra and just
continue from there? And another question that
must be addressed: In Bereisheit, Hashem declares
that Humanity is evil and deserving of
destruction. The Flood comes and a New World
begins. But almost immediately, Hashem declares,
"Yetzer lev ha-adam ra min’urav – Man’s heart is
evil from his youth." And so it appears that
nothing has changed; Humanity is no less evil
than before the Flood! So what was accomplished?!
True all this. But something has happened in
between these "two evils." Noach has built a
Mizbeyach and he has brought an offering, a
sacrifice. And in response, says the pasuk,
"Vayarech Hashem et rayach ha-nichoach, G-d
smelled the pleasing aroma." Says the Medrash on
this: "G-d smelled the fragrance of those who, in
the future, would dedicate themselves to their
Divine mission, even to the point of
self-sacrifice. This would include
Avraham, Chananya, Mishael & Azarya, who would
choose a fiery furnace rather than accept
idolatry (and who would miraculously survive);
and it would also include the Jews of the
pre-Messianic generation, who would remain
committed to Judaism despite suffering terrible persecution and calamities.
This generation would live through such
abominable horror and cruelty, and could
understandably ask, "Where is G-d?! Why is Hashem
concealed?! Do we not deserve Divine assistance?"
Yet, despite our anguish, we would maintain our
faith and not desert our path. Says the Midrash:
When Moshe foresaw the stamina of this generation, he was humbled.
When G-d saw the Jewish People continuing to
engage in spiritual life, and when G-d saw the
self-sacrifice, the "Mesirat Nefesh" of this
nation and the unabated enthusiasm we maintained
even during times of Divine concealment, G-d was
inspired to promise that, in their merit, life
would continue. If OUR devotion was stable and
unchanging, Hashem concludes, then nature would
be equally unchanging and stable, and day and
night would never cease from the Earth.
This is why our story is split into 2 distinct
parts: one is pre-sacrifice and the other
post-sacrifice. And yes, it is correct that evil
was there before the Flood, and is still,
tragically, rampant in our own times. But the
trait of self-sacrifice that we see today is what
allows life to go on, even when evil rears its ugly head.
Friends, we are all living through
Biblically-dramatic times. We are facing
abominable, almost unimaginable evil emanating
from Gaza and the Palestinians. This evil is
compounded by an evil world wherein millions of
misguided people actually march IN FAVOR of the
evil! We may be understandably filled with
despair & hopelessness by all this. But then, we
witness the unbelievable Mesirat Nefesh of our
holy chayalim and the nation as a whole -
millions of acts of heroism and courage that will
be told to every generation to come - and we must
be filled with admiration, pride, hope and love. We suffer, but we survive.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
