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Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Jewish Laws and Customs
Gadol is challenged. G-d orders each tribe to
place their name on a staff; the one that
miraculously blossoms signifies that it is the
choice of Hashem. Ahron's staff, that of Levi,
blossoms first, with ripe almonds (this staff
stayed in bloom for centuries & was kept in the
Bet HaMikdash with a sample of the Mahn).
Almonds, "shaked" in Hebrew, signify zeal, speed,
& faithfulness. The almond tree is the first to
bloom in Israel, in the midst of our rainy
season, thus Chazal decided that the time they
bloomed (Tu B'Shvat) would be the New Year for
trees. When Yirmiyahu is shown an almond tree
(1:11-12), it is a sign that Hashem carries out
His word punctually. The cups on the Menora (some
say the Menora itself!) were shaped like almonds.
Israelis love & consume 7000 tons of almonds each
year. Marzipan, made from almonds, has its own
museum in Kfar Tavor, complete with a marzipan
sculpture of Jewish (some say!) icon Elvis Presley!
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?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
