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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- D'varim
We have demonstrated in the past that throughout Tanach, we find that davar is a reference to prophecies, and indeed Sefer Devarim means that it is the book of Moshe’s prophecies. So too regarding Yirmiyahu, the introductory p’sukim mean that these are the prophecies of Yirmiyahu.
There is a question we have to ask about prophets. What body part is key to their prophecy: the eyes, the ears, or the mouth? The following pasuk in Parashat Vaetchanan may help. "Hashem spoke to you from the midst of the fire; the sound of devarim you heard, and a picture you did not see, but rather a sound" (Devarim 4:12). Sound is stressed, so the important thing is hearing with the ears. After hearing, the prophet shares with the mouth. Seeing is of lesser value and is sometimes even negative. Therefore, we should not be surprised that after the story of the traverses through the desert from the time of the Exodus until soon before the entry to the Land, Moshe addresses the people with the words: "Now, Israel, listen …" (ibid. 4:1). This is followed a little later with the introduction to another important address: "Listen, Israel, to the statutes and the laws" (ibid. 5:1).
So we will posit that the ear is the most important organ, followed by the mouth and only afterward the eyes. Until recently, in order for someone to be able to speak properly, he must have had a functioning ear. With improvements in technology and medicine, in Hashem’s kindness, the situation of the hearing impaired has improved greatly.
One of the people who stressed the importance of hearing was King David, who said: "Ears You formed for me … then I said (with the mouth): Indeed I have come with the scroll of a book written about me" (Tehillim 40:7-8). One who expounded on this point is Rav Kook’s disciple, Rav David Cohen, who was known as The Nazir, in his work "The Sound of Prophecy."
We end off with a related matter that has been troubling us greatly – the inability of extremists on both sides of the political spectrum to listen and their takeover of the public discourse. The ear has another purpose, other than hearing. The ear is responsible for balance in the body. (Notice that Hebrew uses the same root for the ear and for balance.) Yes, the ear is responsible for that on a physical and on a social level. Let us pray for proper balance, which begins with people listening for the benefit of the needs of their counterparts.
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.
