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Beit Midrash
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Melachim I, 5:27-30 lists numerically the tens of thousands of workers who were sent to prepare the materials for the building project. These p’sukim seem to contradict later p’sukim: "All of the people who remained from the Emori, the Chitti, ..., who were not from Bnei Yisrael, their children who remained after them in the Land, whom Bnei Yisrael could not remove, Shlomo made them a workers’ force to this day. From Bnei Yisrael, Shlomo did not take a servant for they were his men of war ..." (ibid. 9:20-22). These p’sukim imply that the members of Bnei Yisrael were not forcibly enlisted for the project.
The latter perek mentions further taxes for the building of the House of Hashem, Shlomo’s own house, the milo (the palace of Paroh’s daughter = Bat Paroh), the wall of Yerushalayim, and cities throughout his kingdom. The navi also mentions an extensive bureaucratic apparatus; no official in charge of the area of Yehuda is mentioned.
The solution to this whole matter is likely as follows. Originally, Shlomo concentrated on building the Beit Hamikdash. For this purpose, he enlisted just the remnants of the former nations of the land. Bnei Yisrael were happy that the Beit Hamikdash was being built and without the need for them to be forced laborers. Eventually, Shlomo decided to expand the capital city surrounding the Beit Hamikdash. This included the ostentatious palace of Bat Paroh, as well as many national building projects. This forced him to enlist more workers, including from Bnei Yisrael. The heavy burden created discontent and attempts to avoid Shlomo’s demands, which were put down by force (the whips we referred to last week). Yerovam, who was in charge of the "labor of the house of Yosef" (ibid. 11:28), was particularly dismayed over the work on Bat Paroh’s palace.
It should be no surprise that with Shlomo’s death and the attempt to coronate Rechavam, Yeravam returned from exile in Egypt and raised the issue of the monarchy’s heavy handedness. Similarly, we can understand why Chazal tied together the building of the Beit Hamikdash and the marriage to Bat Paroh with the following statement. "When Shlomo married Bat Paroh, the angel Gavriel drove a stick into the sea, which caused an accumulation of debris upon which the great metropolis of Rome was built" (Shabbat 56b).
Let us pray that we will merit seeing the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash, a rebuilt capital of Yerushalayim with pleasant ways and with a stress on the donation, and the uplifting of the spirit and the heart, even if it will include an element of tetzaveh (the name of the parasha, meaning, command).
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts