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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Chayei Sara
The Torah section begins with the impressive titles for the servant – "the elder of his house" and "who controls everything that [Avraham] had" (ibid. 2). Chazal (including in Yoma 28b) are confident that this is Eliezer, who they call "an elder who sat in the academy." His name comes up in Lech Lecha (15:2), where he is described as "ben meshek of my house" and "of Damasek," which Chazal interpret with the Hebrew words for "draw and give to drink" from the Torah of his master to others. Thus, they connected the accounts written two parshiyot away from one another, and especially the descriptions of him, to claim that they refer to one person.
Chazal also attribute to him the pasuk in Mishlei (13:25), "The righteous eat so that their spirit is satiated." The midrash (Bamidbar 21:20) says that this refers to Eliezer, as he asked Rivka for a little to drink, as the righteous person did not need to ask for more.
We will now look at some principles that Chazal used to explain p’sukim of Tanach such as ours. Seder Olam Rabba taught us that "Scripture does not come to leave things unclear but to elucidate" (ch. 1). Talmud Yerushalmi expresses the idea as follows: "The words of Torah are poor in one place and rich in another" (Rosh Hashana 3:5). In other words, Tanach explains itself, as in one place the text will be poor and closed, but the information can come from a "richer" context. This gives a powerful tool of exegesis – finding connections between texts.
The fact that the word bayit (house), with similar conjugations, is found in both contexts, hints to connect the two and assume they are talking about the same "central character." When the use of the same word appears in a halachic context, it is called a gezeira shava, and that can be used for derivations only when an existing tradition calls for it. In a homiletic context, there are no such limitations.
The rules we have mentioned are based on the assumption that in the first stage, the entire Torah was given from the Heavens as one book. After that, in stages over a long period of time, the books of Nach were given and the process was completed when the Men of the Great Assembly, with powers of prophecy and/or Divine Spirit, sealed the group of books we know as Tanach. From that critical time, Tanach became one work that explains itself, one section from another.
Why would the information on one matter be split among different works? The prophet Yirmiyahu answers that question based on the principle that the one ultimate source for all of the sections of Tanach is Hashem. If so, the information got to us through the books’ "fall" from the highest of places, during which process they were "broken to bits." Only when the pieces are put together again do we receive the ability to understand matters in depth. Yirmiyahu sums up this phenomenon with the pasuk: "Indeed this is My word, which is like fire, says Hashem, and just as a hammer smashes a stone" (23:29).
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.