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David had a problem with erev (evening, sharing a root with arev, a guarantor). The story of his sin with Batsheva mentions erev twice, once, when he saw Batsheva on her rooftop, and again when David hosted Uriya (Batsheva’s husband) until nighttime, when Uriya refused to sleep at home (see Shmuel II, 11:1-2,13). David was forgiven only when he fully admitted guilt, at which time the navi told him that Hashem he’evir (removed, using same root) his sin.
The Malbim usually looks for merit in David’s actions. However, in this section, he is critical of David for lacking in arvut in the following way. David’s troops were in an extended war with Ammon, and David, the great warrior, stayed in his palace this time rather than joining them, as a Jewish king should do. The Malbim invokes the words of Moshe Rabbeinu to the two and a half tribes: "Will your brothers go to war, and you will stay here?" (Bamidbar 32:6). This complaint echoes throughout history to this day.
In halachic contexts, arvut works in two directions. On the one hand, even if only part of the nation sins, the whole nation can be punished. We learn from the pasuk "A man will stumble over his brother," which the gemara explains as people being punished for the sins of others, that each person is a guarantor for the other (Sanhedrin 27b).
On the other hand, one Jew can perform a mitzva to help another Jew fulfill it. Although one needs to be obligated in a mitzva to do if for someone else, even if one already fulfilled his mitzva, we say that he is considered obligated in the mitzva if his friend, for whom he is responsible, has not yet fulfilled it. This too is based on arvut (see Ran to Rosh Hashana 29a). We learn great lessons from the halachot on "both sides of the coin."
Rabbeinu Bachyei (Shemot 30:34) went a step further. Chazal (Kritot 6b) say that whenever Jews bind together, they must include sinners. He explains that the righteous must include sinners and try to inspire them and enable them to repent and sanctify Hashem’s Name. If they do not, arvut holds them responsible. That is the reason that all the four species taken on Sukkot¸ symbolizing people of various levels of spirituality and observance, are held together.
The Tiferet Shlomo expounds that Yehuda represents monarchy, and this position is all about arvut. For this reason, Yaakov instituted the prayer of Arvit. When we talk about a kol arev (pleasant voice), this means that the sound of our prayers will go up to the extent that we pray with arvut, with concern about others, not just ourselves.
These ideas give a sweet taste to the wonderful value of unity between Jews, of all types, and the responsibility of the leadership to lead in this matter. Let us internalize this matter and thereby be students of Yaakov and David.
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
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.
