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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Tazria - Metzora
concept of Niddah. When a woman begins to
menstruate & cannot conceive, she enters the
Niddah state and separates from her husband for a
period of 7 days (biblically, that is;
the Rabbis tacked on 5 more days for a total of 12 days).
These 7 days connect to the 7 days of mourning.
In both cases, death is present: actual death for
the mourner; potential death for the woman who
did not conceive. When we confront death, we
temporarily move away from pleasure – such as
relations with our spouse - in order to
contemplate life, loss, G-d & our role in the universe.
Both the state of mourning (aveilut) & that of
niddah are what the Torah calls Tumah: a
progression away from life - real or possible -
and a somber reaction to demise. Man is meant to
create - just as G-d is the ultimate Creator - &
when life is destroyed, rather than created, we mourn.
Yet after the obligatory mourning period comes
renewal, hope & joy. The waters of the Mikva
purify us; water is the ultimate symbol & source
of growth & new life. The very fact that we
grapple with loss inspires us to appreciate life
even more, & pursue it with greater zeal.
7 days can also connect to 7 weeks. The 7 weeks
from Pesach to Shavuot represent a progression
from the death, degradation & impurity of
Egyptian slavery to the life & pleasure of the
Torah, which is always symbolized by water - mayim chaim - Torat chaim.
The trauma of war confronts us on a daily basis.
Like aveilut, this must give us pause as we ask
the deepest questions: Why do we suffer? For what
cause do we die & more importantly, for what
cause do we live? What can I create & build that
will be a pure & lasting source of life?
The most potent tumah/impurity is that of a
corpse, in Hebrew a chalal, or empty space. That
which once held a precious soul/neshama, & is now
empty of that neshama, is supremely impure.
Challal is also connected to the word chillul -
desecration, as in chillul Hashem, the profaning
of G-d’s name. A person - or a nation! – that
lacks a neshama sullies G-d’s name. Whenever Jews
die at the hands of an enemy that, too, is a
chillul Hashem. We must all stand in awe of our
holy, pure soldiers, for they guard us from death
& bring us life. They are, literally, a Kiddush
Hashem & it is to them that we should raise our
glasses & drink l’Chayim. Let us honor them by
keeping them in mind each time we make Kiddush, &
by this simple act remember these brave men &
women who are truly the "Kiddush of Hashem."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
