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Beit Midrash
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shows Judaism’s "sensitive side." 53 diverse
Mitzvot instruct us as to how we must be
responsive to the needs of the poor, the widow,
the orphan, the disenfranchised, the indentured
slave; even members of the animal kingdom.
But the Sedra’s closing section seems at first
reading to be something completely different. It
contains several mysterious episodes: First, G-d
says, "I am sending an Angel to protect you;
respect him, for My name is in him."
Then Moshe sends the youth of Israel to bring
offerings; the blood of their sacrifice is
sprinkled over the people as Moshe declares,
"With this blood, the covenant is now sealed between you & Hashem."
Finally, Moshe, Ahron & the elders see a vision
of G-d: "Under His feet was a sapphire brick,
whose essence was as pure & bright as Heaven." What does it all mean?
To me, the message is as clear as day; do you not
see it? Who are the Angels among us? Who are the
youth of Israel who protect us, who embody the
finest attributes of Hashem – Midot such as
courage & Mesirat Nefesh - whose blood is sprinkled on the nation at large?
These can be no other than the proud young men &
women who wear the uniform of the Israel Defense
Forces, who selflessly place their lives on the
line every day to defend Am Yisrael. G-d’s name
is in each of these children, & it is in their
merit, I am absolutely convinced, that we
continue to frustrate the evil designs of
millions of enemies who would destroy us. In
their z’chut the Yeshivot may flourish, the
tourists may visit, the land may bloom. These
angels in green, these green kids who traded
their school bags for M-16s, are a source of
great pride in Klal Yisrael and in this generation.
Chazal comment that the sparkling blue brick
under Hashem’s throne was there to remind Him of
the pain & suffering we endured in Egypt, when
the cruel Egyptians would place Jewish babies in
the wall when their parents’ quota of bricks was
not fulfilled. Each time G-d started to lose
patience with Bnei Yisrael, He would take out
that brick. Remembering our great self-sacrifice,
His attribute of Mercy would take hold & He would forgive us.
So the end of the Parsha, you see, isn’t really
so different in essence from the 53
Mitzvot enumerated earlier. It continues the
same theme: Be sensitive & appreciative of those
who serve us & risk their lives for us, such as
the heroic Chayalim in Gaza and throughout. They
and those like them are the Heavenly bricks from
which this great nation is built.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
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.
