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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Revital Bat Lea
We know that the snake instigated to sin, but when did he tell lashon hara? It was his claim that the reason Hashem forbade eating from the tree of knowledge was that He knew that man would be like Him, kav’yachol. But still, one thinks of talking about G-d inappropriately as heresy rather than lashon hara. How is Moshe talking about Bnei Yisrael parallel to the snake’s words of heresy?
In essence, the snake said that there is nothing innately different about Hashem, but that He is like people and has self-interests like them. In this way, Moshe said something parallel about Bnei Yisrael. Although most nations would be skeptical about being extricated from Egypt’s grip, a Divinely chosen nation would believe that the promise of redemption Hashem gave to their forefathers would be fulfilled. This special type of lashon hara doubted that Bnei Yisrael was unique in this regard, implying that all nations are the same.
This idea of denying a special Divine essence may also shed light on another use of the root for snake, nachash. In many places in the Torah, nachash refers to a form of witchcraft that predicts the future (see Bereishit 44:15; Bamidbar 23:23). This is based on the assumption that everything is predictable if one taps into the forces. It denies the Divine input into the process.
Our outlook on the snake’s worldview also sheds light on another statement of Chazal about the snake. Rashi (to Bamidbar 21:6) says that snakes were chosen to punish Bnei Yisrael for criticizing the manna to show the absurdity of complaining about a food that turned into whatever taste one wanted. The snake brings that message home because everything tastes the same to it. According to our thesis, this is particularly significant. Whether physically or spiritually, the snake’s mouth declares there is no difference between this and that. The tongue that said that G-d is the same as people was punished with the curse that all foods will taste identically like earth (see Bereishit 3:14).
When Hashem hinted to Moshe the shortcoming he had displayed, Moshe ran away from the snake (Shemot 4:3). It perhaps was particularly frightful to think that the staff that he had been holding continuously had been a snake, with the spiritual implications we have alluded to. Hashem reassured Moshe that the flaw was not innate, but a misunderstanding, and that he could grab the snake and return it to a staff.
Let us all be successful in recognizing the potential "snake in our hands" and keep it from showing its ugly head.
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Chapter 3: Customs of Mourning during the Omer Period
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.