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Beit Midrash
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His "journey" began (ibid. 28:2-22) and ended (ibid. 35:1-15) in Beit El. In both cases (ibid. 28:19; 35:15), the Torah uses almost the exact same language to describe that Yaakov called the place of his encounter with Hashem, Beit El (literally, the house of Hashem). As a national leader, he continued the lead of his grandfather, Avraham.
Avraham (called a prince – ibid. 23:6), led a fighting force into battle. He was not afraid to take on a powerful Mesopotamian army that had captured his nephew (ibid. 14:14-16) and defeated them in a brilliant nighttime attack, and freed the captive soldiers and civilians. Avraham negotiated and made pacts with kings (e.g., with Avimelech, King of Plishtim – ibid. 21:27-32). Avraham was also active in spiritual leadership, which attracted many people to his "camp." On the pasuk "the souls they made in Charan" (ibid. 12:5), the midrash (Bereishit Rabba 39:14) says it refers to the men and women, respectively, that Avraham and his wife Sarah converted.
Yaakov acted similarly. He prepared for war (see ibid. 32:8-9 with Rashi) and fought with the angel of Eisav, who admitted that Yaakov was a leader, which should reflect itself with the name Yisrael (see ibid. 29). Yaakov and family carried out negotiations with the ruler of Shechem, reaching an agreement that started to be implemented. After Shimon and Levi caused a crisis (we will not get into Yaakov’s grievances with Shimon and Levi’s excesses), the Torah reports that the people of the region were afraid of the divine protection that they sensed Yaakov’s family enjoyed (ibid. 35:5).
Midrashim also attribute significant numbers of conversions to Yaakov (Bereishit Rabbati, pp. 152-3). One of the hints in the Torah to this is Yaakov’s instructions to those who went along with him to remove the idols from their midst (ibid. 2), a step that is the first condition for conversion. The existence of these converts is not only hinted to in Sefer Bereishit but also in Sefer Yehoshua.
In the Torah section (ibid. 35:1-6) that discusses the removal of the idols from Yaakov’s encampment, Hashem told Yaakov that the time had come for him to make an altar to Him in the place where Hashem had appeared to him as he was about to leave the Land. The idea of erecting an altar and calling out in the Name of Hashem appears already when they were just approaching Shechem (ibid. 33:18-20). Next week we will try to understand the connection between these two episodes of using the altar.
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.
