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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayishlach
The middle letters of Yisrael form the word rosh (head). This symbolizes Yaakov’s desire to reach the head of his famous ladder. There are other, related, appropriate meanings. Head also symbolizes leadership, being the head and the first (rishon). For example, when Shimi ben Geira came to greet David when he returned from his exile during Avshalom’s rebellion, he is called the "rishon of the whole House of Yosef" (Shmuel II, 19:21).
The connection between leadership/strength and Yaakov’s new name is explicit, as the angel explains it: "… for you have acted with authority (sarita) with angels and people and have succeeded" (Bereishit 32:29; this pasuk can be translated in many ways). The root is found elsewhere in this meaning in verb form, as Avimelech is described as ruling over Israel for three years with the word "vayasar" (Shoftim 9:22).
In many ways, sin and shin are the same letter, so yashar (straight) is also a form of the same root. Shimshon, then, may have intended for a double entendre, when he asked his father to take for him a Philistine wife because she was yashar in his eyes (ibid. 14:3). He not only meant that he liked her but that she was his means of obtaining dominion over her people.
The meaning we would like to focus on is of yashar in the realm of ethics. Chazal call Sefer Bereishit, Sefer Hayashar, because the patriarchs were ethical. In one of the most uplifting sections in the Torah commentaries, the Netziv, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin (the greatest Torah center in Europe at its time), explained the difference between a tzaddik (righteous) and the preferable yashar.
The Netziv refers to the nation at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple as having many tzaddikim and people who were dedicated to Torah and its study, yet they were a difficult generation – these people were not yashar in the way they led their lives. Because of baseless hatred, they accused those who did not share their philosophy of being heretics, causing violence and discord, which led to the destruction. Hashem "cannot stand" such tzaddikim, and yearns for yesharim, truly ethical people, like the patriarchs. Even though the tzaddikim primarily acted with good intentions, Hashem was justified in bringing the destruction of the Temple.
The Netziv continues to point out that the patriarchs acted in good faith and with cordiality even with lowly idol worshippers, seeing them as partners in building the world. Avraham prayed for the people of Sodom, even though he hated them due to their wickedness. The midrash (Devarim Rabba 3:15) says that Avraham was chosen over all of the other righteous people because he tried to defend and find the good in all sorts of people.
So, Yaakov, who started off as "an unblemished man, who sat in tents" (Bereishit 25:27) was crowned as Yisrael, both tzaddik and yashar. May we merit leadership by people who are both tzaddikim and yesharim.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
