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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
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One sings when the ideal becomes reality, uniting the internal and external, the subconscious and conscious. When a person’s life does not fit his character, he cannot be in a state of simcha. We see disquiet and contradictions in his actions and dissatisfaction with his life. He does not have a "song of life." When a person lives "his life" and expresses his essence with his actions, he reaches the level of song.
The essence of Judaism is to be connected to Hashem, the Eternal. If a Jew does not give expression to his soul’s yearning for connection to the source of his life, he is incomplete. Living among non-Jews or secularism can cause people to forget their Jewish essence. They do not live as themselves, which leads to a lack of confidence and satisfaction; a thick layer of infection covers his internal heart. He disguises himself from himself and cannot be truly happy.
During the exile in Egypt, Bnei Yisrael lived as idol worshippers among idol worshippers (Shir Hashirim Rabba 2). This covered over the Jewish soul in a manner that made it difficult to see the difference between an Egyptian and a Jewish soul. Moshe was concerned that the people would not believe in the liberation (Shemot 4:1). However, Hashem responded that they would (ibid. 3:18) because they are believers the sons of believers, and their internal side would burst forward, even if not always does it appear so.
However, the bursting forward can be fleeting. Bnei Yisrael reverted to the familiar things that attracted them to Egyptian life, not only reminiscing about food, but going as far as to say, "Leave us to serve the Egyptians" (ibid. 14:12). However, when Bnei Yisrael got to exercise their dedication to and trust in Hashem by entering the raging sea, reality caught up with the dormant internal spiritual yearnings. As the dream was realized and the soul appreciated salvation at the sea, they experienced "Then they sang …" (ibid. 15:1). They sang in the merit of believing.
This was a "new song," of a type that had never been sung before. Its main essence was not of physical survival, but of redemption of the spirit, of life that received its true content. "They thanked and coronated and said" (from daily prayers). Bnei Yisrael reached the point of being able to point (even children) and say, "This is my G-d, and I will adorn Him" (ibid. 2). This is the Being that we dreamed about, strived to recognize, and were enthralled with before we even knew Him.
Reaching this level, though, did not prevent the deterioration that happened by the time Bnei Yisrael arrived at Sinai. Throughout our history, external forms of idols sowed confusion that made us forget, splinter our religious identities, and eventually experience destruction and exile.
The midrash (op. cit.) teaches that the people said "This is our G-d" only once. In the Days to Come, we will call out to Hashem twice (Yeshayahu 25:9), which will make a great difference.
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.
