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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
we began to ask for rain with the prayer Mashiv
HaRuach U'Morid haGashem. This Motzei Shabbat
(Oct. 21) which is 7 Cheshvan, we in Israel
insert an additional petition for rain - V'tayn
tal u'matar - in the Amida’s "Barech Aleynu"
bracha, where we ask for Hashem's sustenance,
which is linked to rain, which is much needed at
this time in Israel. Shmuel the Sage established
the Diaspora petition to begin on the 60th day
after the autumnal equinox (when rain was needed
in Babylonia), a solar figure which falls on
either Dec. 4 or 5. This remains the Diaspora
date, no matter where one resides in the
Diaspora. One who forgets this petition must say
the Amida over again. If in doubt, he must repeat
the Amida, unless he has said the phrase for 30
days (or repeated it 90 times!) to habituate
himself to saying it. An Israeli who began to say
V'tayn tal u'matar & then travels abroad,
continues to say it there, unless he acts as Chazan.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
