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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Moreshet Shaul
The other case is one who learns Torah. Chazal determined: "One who teaches Torah to his friend’s son is as if he gave birth to him" (Sanhedrin 19b). If the teacher is like one who begot him, then the student must be like one who was born. Thus, the same concept as conversion, with the radical change from non-Jew to Jew, occurs when one goes from being unlearned to learned.
Two friends were educated and played together; then a change came. One stayed home, while the other went off to yeshiva. After a while, they meet back at home, and their conversation is no longer natural. The friend who learned Torah is somehow a new person, not who he was before.
Moreshet Shaul (48)
Various Rabbis
1 - Moreshet Shaul: Thoughts on the Blessing on Torah
2 - Moreshet Shaul: Rebirth Through Torah
3 - Moreshet Shaul: Recognize Your Place
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However, the world is divided into levels. That which is considered the soul of the lower level is considered physical for the higher level. Just like a person’s body receives vitality from the soul of a mitzva, so too a mitzva needs to receive a soul from the higher level; that soul is the Torah. In fact, the mitzva lacks its liveliness without the Torah behind the mitzva. Also, just as a person is reborn through conversion, so is a Jew reborn through Torah study.
There are people who study Torah and there is the study of Torah. One who studies enough becomes a "study of Torah" and a "son of Torah." This is not so for all other intellectual disciplines, in which the student and the discipline are disconnected and the person’s being is not affected by it. There, the person controls the wisdom, and the wisdom does not control him. Regarding one who masters Torah, the Torah takes him over and leaves its imprint on him, pours its spirit on him, and makes him a new person. A studied page of Talmud is not just new information; it is a "liquid" that intermingles with his blood and spreads throughout one’s body and being. He thinks differently and has different manners and attributes. If one cannot touch the difference or immediately see it, it is because of his lack of perception.
Sometimes even the Torah observant miss this point. If they lack appreciation of Torah, they view its study as just one more of the 613 mitzvot. For such people, the Torah and the mitzva to learn it lack the power to change one’s day and certainly one’s life. They think that Torah is only for those who study it professionally, whereas the rest can suffice with reciting Kriat Shema twice a day. They think that this suffices to teach their children, as the parents do not feel inspired by the prospect of more. More than a few even do not respect those who study intensely, thinking that they do it for their enjoyment and view them as not contributing to the world.
Before the poor shepherd Akiva was "born" into Rabbi Akiva, he was the symbol for the ignorant people of the world. He was ignorant but not evil or disrespectful of mitzvot. He was humble and good and just was missing a desire to embrace the study of Torah. But this was not so, for the gemara (Pesachim 49b) told of his hostility toward Torah scholars; it was ignorance as an approach.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Jewish Philosophy in Daily Life
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 250
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part IV
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Fortunate is the King Who Is Thus Praised in His House
Based on Aroch Siach, Yamim Noraim p. 87
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Introduction to Midrash Rabba – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 121
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
