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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
In advance of sending out the M’raglim to scout
the Land of Israel in order to discern its
strengths & weaknesses, Moshe changes the name of
his faithful disciple from Hoshea to Yehoshua,
adding a Yud (that stands for G-d). His name now
reads "Yah-Hoshea," that can mean, "May Hashem
save you" (from the influence of the other spies).
But was Yehoshua’s name not changed much earlier,
when he began to apprentice to Moshe? And why did
Moshe reach out to Yehoshua & not to Calev? And
why does the phrase, "V'elah Ha-Shemot, & these
are the names (of the spies)" both precede and
follow the actual names? That last phrase is entirely unnecessary in the text!
Clearly, the Torah is telling us that names are
crucial; they are the key to understanding one’s
strength & personality. Indeed, the bestowing of
a particular name upon someone not only
memorializes someone from the past, but
also has the power to imbue him or her with
certain qualities that mystically will help & protect them in the future.
Calev, as the pasuk points out, descends from
Yehuda & inherits his persona. Yehuda is a lion,
unafraid to stand up & speak out when necessary,
just as Yehuda stood up to Yosef in Egypt & spoke
out in defense of Binyamin & just as Yehuda's
future descendant David stood up to & spoke out
against Galyat (Goliath). In fact, "Calev" can be
read as "Kelev," a dog, who is always ready to "bark" in defense of its master.
But Yehoshua is different; he descends from
Yosef. His family DNA is strong on holding back,
remaining stoically silent in the most difficult
of situations. So Rachel is silent when her
beloved Yakov marries her sister Leah; Yosef
holds back & waits patiently to reveal his
identity to his brothers in Egypt; Binyamin does
not tell his father that his brothers sold Yosef
into slavery, & Esther does not reveal, until the
last, critical moment that she is Jewish.
Moshe knows this, & he wants to be sure that
Yehoshua will not hold back in this situation,
that he will speak out forcefully against the
other spies & positively motivate the nation to
trust G-d. And so, to fortify & embolden him,
Moshe bestows upon him a name of strength that
incorporates Hashem as his faithful savior. It is
recorded here & now, when it most comes into play & is needed.
Alas, Yehoshua & Calev did not succeed in their
noble task. The Meraglim prevailed, sealing their
fate & that of their entire generation; the
nation would wait 40 years to enter Israel. But
now, we are here, & we must believe that we will
be victorious in the war we are currently waging,
& that we will stay in this land forever more. It
is incumbent upon us that, we, too, speak up and
speak out in defense of teh State of Israel and
the holiness of the Jewish People.
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?
Parashat Hashavua Unfortunate Disbelief in the Coexistence of Opposites
1988 – from Siach Shaul, p. 388-390
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.
