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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
This should make us think about a human being’s responsibilities from a Torah perspective and what results from a lack of compliance to them. These are also addressed in the parasha. Sanhedrin 56b provides the sources for the seven Noahide Laws in Bereishit and Noach. These mitzvot are the basis for the existence of a healthy, sustainable society. Most of them focus on basic human principles, as we will illustrate.
1. Establishing a judicial system based on the principles of justice – this includes protecting the weak and ensuring a peaceful society. It should prevent theft and extortion and punish criminals to prevent recurrence of crime.
2. Incest and adultery – sexual abuse within the family uproots the integrity of the family unit, which must protect its members. The prohibitions include disregard for the holy bond between man and wife. Also, there is concern of the powerful taking advantage over those in weaker positions.
3. Taking the life of another – the atrocity of murder is a cornerstone of any society. People must not take the lives of others, irrespective of religion, race, or gender; everyone is created in Hashem’s image. When victims are helpless, the moral affront is even higher.
4. Theft – everyone has the right to accumulate wealth. The laws that govern society must prevent outright thievery and other, more subtle forms of financial corruption, including unfairly selective taxation.
5. Eating a part of a live animal (ever min hachai) – The prohibition sends a clear message that it is important for humanity to curb cruelty even toward animals.
Thousands of years ago, the Torah set up a set of values, which still represent the basis of a proper society. Notice the horrible sins of the Hamas organization and how it has, over years, disregarded basic rules of decency, starting with among their own people, and when the opportunity arose, among large portions of the citizens of the State of Israel. They do not respect even one of the principles listed above. They do not have a judicial system based on justice, do not protect their own citizens, and certainly have no respect for the lives and property of Israelis. They sinned in the realm of sexual impropriety. They even stole from and financially abused Gazans. Their regard for avoiding cruelty is non-existent. For all of these reasons, they do not deserve to be treated like a government and deserve no respect on any level.
It is a halachic necessity to fight against Hamas’ infrastructure and all its members from top to bottom. Terrorists do not deserve all of the rights that a normal person does, but we should be careful to minimize harm to innocents, whom we correctly enabled to flee areas of fighting. May Hashem protect our brave forces who are involved in carrying out these moral imperatives.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
