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Beit Midrash
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Why does G-d tell Moshe to instruct the people to
"take" donations for the building of the Mishkan?
Would "give" not have been a more appropriate verb?
There is a common misconception that one feels
love for someone from whom he receives & derives
benefit. But in truth, love is generated through
giving; counter-intuitively, a person loves most
someone to whom he has given abundantly. The love
that husband & wife feel for one another grows
over the course of their marriage in direct
proportion to their giving to each other more &
more. (Thus the root of "ahava – love" is "hav" – to give).
Sports fans feel an intense attachment to their
favorite team because of the time, money &
emotional energy they invest into that team.
Indeed, the average price paid for a ticket to
this week’s sold-out Super Bowl was $8600! As the
Gemara teaches, a person is happier with the $100
that he earned by his own efforts than with
$1,000 that came to him effortlessly.
The more that one invests into a given person or
item, the stronger an emotional attachment he
will feel towards that person or item. G-d
therefore specifically tells Moshe that Bnei
Yisrael should "take for Me a donation."
Towards the end of Parshat Mishpatim, Bnei
Yisrael declare their blind acceptance of the
Torah without any knowledge of what this
entails. But Hashem wanted to ensure that they
would proceed to carry out this great commitment
with love & excitement, rather than with a sense
of burden or resentment. He therefore commanded
that they give generously to G-d & donate
expensive materials towards the Mishkan, thereby
engendering a strong feeling of attraction to & affection for the Almighty.
In this sense, then, their "giving" was indeed an
act of "taking." By donating to the Mishkan, the
people walked away with a feeling of both love &
personal connection to the religion they have now
accepted upon themselves. This ensured that they
would observe the Torah not as a forced
obligation, but rather willingly, with genuine fervor.
Many of us, for most of the time, tend to
"sleep-walk" through the Mitzvot, adopting a
daily, almost mindless routine of conducting
ourselves according to the dictates of the Torah
& Halacha. But Judaism should never be "routine;"
it should be observed with an ongoing, ever-new excitement & wonder.
If you want to soar like Eagles, heed their
advice: "Any kind of love without passion is no kind of loving at all."
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
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
