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Beit Midrash
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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
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts