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Beit Midrash
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Eventually, technical considerations (stemming from the English language publication needing to come out earlier than the Hebrew version) dictated a change. The editorial ploy I developed was to usually translate the dvar Torah of the same parasha from the previous year of the Hebrew publication. Two phenomena create problems with this system. One is the occurrence of leap years, like this year. For one, last year had one dvar Torah for Vayakhel/Pekudei, whereas this year, Vayakhel and Pekduei are spread over two weeks. Therefore, for example, last week I translated a dvar Torah from our mentor, Rav Shaul Yisraeli zt"l. Furthermore, last year Rav Carmel, wrote a paragraph on Pekudei and the rest on Parashat Hachodesh; this year, Parashat Hachodesh is in a few weeks. Another problem is that Rav Carmel often applies eternal Torah concepts to current events, but last year’s current events are often forgotten or stale news this year for our readers.
Interestingly, this second element has proven very instructive for me. The dominant current event last year was judicial reform. While most writers on this topic focused on arguments for this approach or that one, Rav Carmel focused almost entirely, week after week, on a simple concept – unity is (among) the most important of national goals, and the price of disunity resulting from the conflict was too great and dangerous, including by emboldening our enemies. Of course, the current focus by many in the nation on unity, which hopefully will prove to be "better late than never," has borne out the truths he articulated last year.
Last year, on this parasha and Parashat Hachodesh, Rav Carmel highlighted the moon as the basis of our calendar, Rav Carmel cited two historical Rabbinic disputes about the calendar and how crucial it was that the "losing side" understood that he had to concede defeat (even if he was right), in the interest of national unity.
Exactness in our calendar is crucial. Judaism always put a premium on keeping to our joint calendar. In chutz la’aretz, we add five days of Yom Tov to avoid the remote chance of making Yom Tov on the wrong day (see Beitza 4b). On the other hand, two days are artificially (i.e., often out of synch with the new moon) removed from the days that most holidays can fall on due to pragmatic considerations (so Yom Kippur will never fall out on Friday or Sunday because of the human toll, regarding food and funerals (Rosh Hashana 20a)). Although usually the months alternate between 29 and 30 days (as a lunar month is almost exactly 29.5 days), this year, we had three short months and later two long months in a row. This is illogical from a purist perspective, and it is due to practical calendric considerations.
We end with some conclusions from the above. Exactness is divine, but accommodating important human needs overcomes that value. Fighting for what is right is sometimes worthwhile, but pursuit of unity is often more important.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
