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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Chukat
One of the rules of tuma is that objects become capable of becoming tameh when they are made by man into useful utensils. Sometimes this means that if they are exposed to tuma, they become tameh, and sometimes this means that in order to use it (for food), one must first immerse it in a mikveh. Some utensils, like p’shutei kli etz (wood utensils that do not have a receptacle in which things can be stored) always remain pure (Tosefta, Chulin 1:21).
Our parasha (Bamidbar 19:15) teaches that an open earthenware utensil (kli cheres) can become tameh but not a sealed one. The rule is that a kli cheres becomes tameh only from within. Homiletically, we can learn that what is important is the internal nature of things, not the external nature.
Let us apply this idea to another subject that the parasha deals with. Bnei Yisrael complained about their disgust with their main food in the desert, the manna (ibid. 21:5). This is surprising considering the wonderful qualities the Torah ascribes to it (see Shemot 16:31) and which Chazal expanded upon. (The most famous quality, although far from the only one, is that the manna tasted like whatever one wanted it to taste – see Yoma 75a).
It is logical to conjecture that what disturbed the people was that it did not look like food. It is well known that part of a food’s appeal is connected to its appearance, not just its taste. The manna lacked the appearance that would stimulate the people’s appetite. (We should add, parenthetically, that a Jew should eat to satiate himself, so that he should have strength to serve Hashem, not because of a craving for the food. This is as it says in Mishlei (13:25): "A righteous person eats for the satiation of his spirit.")
The manna that Hashem gave us to eat in the wilderness indeed sent home the opposite message from what the people’s prejudice was. One should not look at the external but at the internal. The idea that the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge was a cause of "desire to the eyes" (Bereishit 3:6) was part of the background of the sin. The fact that the snake pushed to Adam and Chava the idea of importance of the fruit’s appearance explains why snakes were involved in punishing the people who complained about the manna and thereby gave unwarranted value to the food’s appearance.
Certainly, due to technological and economic factors, the world of marketing has an ever-expanding impact on mankind’s choices, for people of all ages. From a young age, even children are exposed to the elevating of the role of externals and of self-promotion, for the most part in a negative manner. These factors cause great deterioration of society, leading up to and including murder. We will continue to work to give prominence to the internal, which requires overcoming many technologies and social factors that preach the opposite.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
