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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
The physical connection between a husband and wife needs sanctification and to be part of a real connection. This is the closest thing to the connection between Am Yisrael and Hashem, which is why the gemara (Sota 17a) says that if a couple succeeds in their relationship, the Divine Presence is between them.
The wounds and lesions that comprise tzara’at (roughly, leprosy) in a person’s body, which would seem to indicate a physiological problem, have an important spiritual connection. They are related to the question the person can be asked: "What came out of your mouth – divrei Torah or lashon hara?"
In the last few years, effort has been focused on producing cultured meat, at a price that people can afford. Now that it seems practical, we will have to see how it will affect the Jewish kitchen. In our tenth volume of Bemareh Habazak (which came out a few weeks ago), we wrote about halachic elements of this technology; let us review the spiritual background as well.
Only after the Flood, did it become permitted to take the life of a living being and eat it, as previously only "vegetable" foods were permitted to mankind (see Bereishit 1:29). Hashem permitted Noach and his descendants to eat meat (without blood) (ibid. 9:3). At that time, there was a need to reinforce that murder of fellow humans would remain strictly forbidden (ibid. 6). At that time, it also became forbidden to be cruel to animals and eat a limb when the animal was still alive (see Sanhedrin 57a, based on Bereishit 9:4). The development of "meat handling" raised moral questions, mainly in regard to cruelty to animals (see Bava Metzia 32a). These issues follow us, as Jews and as human beings.
The matter of bal tashchit, not causing unnecessary damage to the world around us, which Hashem so wonderfully granted us, also relates to the opportunity to make food that is effectively meat, but does not negatively impact the ecology.
Success in producing cultured meat, which might be pareve even on the level of Rabbinic law, will be revolutionary for the Jewish kitchen and the difficulty of separating between meat and milk. This will require us to widen halachic discussion on the status of this "meat," and we will also look with interest to see what becomes accepted, not only rabbinically but also in the grass roots. We pray that cultured meat will be incorporated into an improving world. This can provide a boost, which we hope will encompass the relationships between man and his fellow man and man and the world around him.
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.
