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Beit Midrash
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The ingenious & rational Rambam (hil. M'lachim 5, 5) adds several surprising words in defining the Torah mitzva to remember what Amalek did to us: "to constantly (!) remember their evil deeds and their ambush of Israel TO AROUSE OUR HATRED of them". We usually relate to hatred as something we are meant to overcome, and surely not "arouse"! And why does the Rambam add that this obligation is "constant".
Another obvious question is: if there is no longer Amalek in the world, why must we stubbornly "remember what Amalek did to us". We Jews have a long memory, but when an historic issue seems no longer relevant, the Talmud asks: "מאי דהוה הוה!", "What was, was"- so who cares? (e.g. Yoma 5b), so what's the "nafka mina" (practical application)?! Anyway you look at it, it's been 2500 years since there was a practical mitzvah to fight the Amalek children!
I think this mitzvah can be likened to the classic advice of many a father to their teenage daughter: "BH you have grown up to be a very sweet and beautiful young lady, and we love you that way, but don't be naïve. Just know that there are some evil people out in the world. Don’t let them take advantage of you!"
We Israeli citizens who comprise the IDF are normal peace-loving people who are not naturally "tough", and would prefer spending our time on creative pursuits. This is exactly the problem which enabled the Hamas to surprise us on that fateful Simchat Torah. Many Israelis lived in a naïve dream-world, thinking that if we just pull out of Gush Katif, if we just treat them nicely, there will be peace. We mistakenly PROJECTED our own mindset onto our enemy. Didn't our parents teach us: "it take two to tangle"? So if we are adamant to be friendly with them, rationally that's what we should get in return (see Mishlei 20, 17).
Unfortunately, the past year year and a half, the Hamas has proven to anyone objective that the lack of peace in the middle-east is a direct outcome of their understanding of Islam. What does murdering the helpless, rape and mutilation have to do with their "freedom"? I admit that I don't know much about their religion, and that there may be other peaceful interpretations to Islam, but as long as Hamas and ISIS interpret it the way they do, we cannot put our heads in the sand and deny reality. Yes, Am Yisrael yearns for peace, but in our eternal role as a Light to the Nations, our loving Father teaches us this Shabbat, that it's irresponsible to be naïve and let evil people take advantage of us. This is a constant mitzvah, just in case we sometimes may want to forget the irrationality of anti-Semitism…
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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.
