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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
Today we traveled (in the procession with the new sefer Torah) through the streets of Kiryat Moshe, thereby sanctifying the streets and Hashem’s Name. This helps neutralize the negative events that occur in our streets – the throwing of stones and the weakening of the public sanctity of Shabbat.
On the one hand, there are non-Jews around the world who object to seeing us in Eretz Yisrael, but there are also, tragically, many Jews who want to uproot the use of Hashem’s Name and defile the sanctity of Jerusalem, the Holy City. They want the sounds of public buses [on Shabbat], viewing them as the harbingers of "freedom and enjoyment." But this "freedom" opposes the spirit of Judaism, weakens the feelings of kinship in the country, and tramples the crown of the sanctity of Jerusalem. It also provides fuel for the actions of the stone throwers. When people desecrate sanctity, we do not have a real Jerusalem, value for the Nation of Israel, and the connection between the Land and the nation.
Our walking through the streets with "the ark" sanctifies them and returns the crown of sanctity and purity. We proclaim: "Any vessel made to hurt us will not succeed," not the stone throwers and not those who, Heaven forbid, try to rip the sefer Torah’s parchment.
In recent parshiyot, we read of the four languages of liberation that Hashem promised we would have from Egypt. The next pasuk says: "I will bring you to the Land …" (Shemot 6:8). We are not living up to that gift sufficiently. Some of us are willing to relinquish parts of Eretz Yisrael and believe and dream that this will bring them tranquility and peace within the reduced borders. They do not understand that Eretz Yisrael cannot be divided, just like Am Yisrael cannot. They want to uproot Hashem’s Name from our midst, but they will not succeed. Somewhere down the line, they or their descendants will repent, because, as Jews, they have a nucleus of sanctity in their midst, waiting to show expression.
Before we came to the Land, we first had to receive the Torah. There is no Eretz Yisrael, nor is there an Am Yisrael, without Torah, as these values share a unifying force. Ripping away one is like ripping away the others. For this reason, nowadays, those whose connection to Torah Judaism is weak are the ones who want to give up on parts of Eretz Yisrael. If we strengthen ourselves in Torah and honor it [as we did today], we will "come to the Land."
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.