YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
prophetic of the current crisis in Israel,
offering us crucial lessons as to how to respond
to the drama unfolding before us.
Moav & Midian are long-time enemies of one
another, yet to destroy Israel, they forget past
differences & forge an unholy alliance. Indeed,
when you take the last 2 Hebrew letters of Bilaam
& join them with the last 2 letters of Balak, you
get.......Amalek, the arch-enemy of the Jewish People!
Now, it would have been infinitely more
productive for Balak & Bilam to bless their own
nations rather than to curse ours. But our
enemies often spend their time blaming others for
their problems, rather than using that same
energy to solve them. Unable to defeat us Jews
physically, they choose a strategy of
delegitimization. They denounce & defame us,
screaming to all from the highest cliffs that we
are dangerously different, a threat to humanity &
undeserving of being part of the community of nations.
Of course, Hashem ultimately presides over the
truth & changes these curses into blessings. Are
we truly "a nation that dwells alone?" Yes,
perhaps we are, but that is not a negative! In
fact, it’s a crucial key to our survival, for by
our not melting into the world at large we’ve
managed over the centuries to maintain our
particularity. Do "we do not compute among the
nations?" Yes, certainly, but that means the
norms of the world don’t apply to us; we skew the
graphs & defy the odds as we march on throughout
history. Our survival is statistically improbable
- if not impossible - but we are here,
nevertheless. Are we "rock-like," that is,
stubborn & unmoving? Yes, but that, too, explains
why we & our traditions stubbornly survive & why
our enemies, despite their incessant efforts, cannot dislodge us.
In the end, Bilam & Balak’s plot to curse us does
not work - just as the current, worldwide slander
campaign against us will IY"H also fail – so
Balak & Bilaam devise a new, even more diabolical
plot: They seduce us into turning away from G-d &
worshipping all manner of false gods, succumbing
to our baser lusts & desires. This creates a
schism in our nation & truly threatens us. For
when we fragment into different camps, we are
vulnerable; when we cast aspersions - or throw
stones - at each other, we open the door to being stoned by our enemies.
At the end of our Sedra, Pinchas steps forward to
take bold action. While controversial, Hashem
validates Pinchas’s courage & bestows upon him a
"Brit Shalom." The message is crystal-clear: Only
when we are closely bound by one, enduring
covenant of brotherhood will we find that lasting
peace that we so desperately seek. In short, WE MUST STAY TOGETHER!!
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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
