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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Mishpatim
Yitro starts with Moshe’s father-in-law giving advice to Moshe on how to assemble proper judges in a logical system. This topic was generally broached at the end of Beshalach ("There He placed for them statutes and justice, and there He tested them" – Shemot 15:25). As Chazal explain, in Mara, Hashem gave Bnei Yisrael some Torah laws to be involved in, including principles of monetary law (Mechilta D’rabbi Yishmael ad loc.). This involvement got Bnei Yisrael started in the preparation for a proper judicial system.
Later in Yitro, four of the Ten Commandments are connected to the judicial system – false oaths, murder, theft/kidnapping, and false testimony. Right after the giving of the Torah, Mishpatim details many specific areas of Halacha that are the basis of adjudication in beit din. These include the rights of personal freedom, ethics of jurisprudence, and protection of the weak in society. Fields covered include damages, watchmen, loans, and preventing false testimony. Finally, the Torah goes back to the interaction with the Divine Presence at Sinai. This order reinforces the idea that significant Torah-based life depends on a properly functioning judicial system.
Going back thousands of years, it became rare for Jews to have a judicial system, through which to enforce rulings. With the establishment of the State of Israel, Chief Rabbi Herzog’s dream of a proper Jewish judicial system was fulfilled only very partially, with limitations that increased over time. Much work was employed to find a way to apply Torah principles in a modern economic society that involves many technologies and globally bound commerce.
Before founding the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit network of batei din, we did extensive research and held discussions with leading rabbis of our time, which enabled us to know how to provide up-to-date solutions for these challenges. Actually, the Israeli (and international) Law of Arbitration was helpful in building a fully functional beit din system for a democratic Jewish background. The rules of the Law of Arbitration are very in-step with Halacha, and when one follows them, it is relatively easy for litigants to enforce rulings.
In practice, litigants must accept beit din’s authority regarding their dispute by signing an arbitration agreement. Then beit din can hear the claims, listen to witnesses, consider proofs, and, when necessary, make use of experts to clarify complicated technical matters. Some batei din, including ours, provide a possibility to appeal decisions, and if there is a problem with enforcement of the ruling, the Israeli government bureau for such matters can be used.
Through the simple act of agreeing to adjudicate in beit din, litigants merit taking part in the fulfillment of the prophecy: "Zion will be redeemed through justice, and those who return to it, through tzedaka" (Yeshayahu 1:27). In times like these, this is especially critical.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
