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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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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
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.
