YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Vayakhel
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Jewish Laws and Customs
- Kohanim
kills another may not duchen, as the pasuk says,
(Yeshayahu 1:15) "When you spread out your palms,
I will hide My eyes from you." Some hold this
only applies to killing a Jew; others hold it
applies to both a Jew or a non-Jew, & includes a
Jew serving in a foreign army. But Rav Ovadia
Yosef, quoting the pasuk, "One who comes to kill
you, kill him first," rules that a chayal in the
IDF who kills an enemy soldier/terrorist may
duchen. "Indeed, he writes, "if the soldier
hesitates in opening fire, who knows how many
Jews would be killed, & he will have transgressed
the prohibition, ‘Do not stand idly by your
brothers’ blood.’ Hashem has granted the soldier
the merit to eliminate the terrorists – who wish
to murder all of our people - & save his fellow
Jews before they are harmed. For sure he will be
rewarded in Heaven for his heroic act." May
Hashem protect our holy soldiers from harm &
grant them victory in their courageous struggle.
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?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
