YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tavo
There was a very different social and moral atmosphere in other nations that were considered enlightened, at the time the Torah was given and many years thereafter. We will give a few examples (see a survey of societies in this regard in Menachem Elon’s book, Individual Freedoms in Collecting Loans).
In the Code of Hammurabi (Mesopotamia, at the time of Avraham) it is written: "If the debt was incurred by borrowing grain or silver, one may seize as collateral: the property, servants, children, and wives, and the person himself." In other words, there were few limits to the harsh steps one could take against a hopeless debtor, in order to ensure payment. In contrast, according to the Torah, the only debtor who can be sold as a slave is a thief who does not return or pay for what he stole.
At the time of the four overlapping prophets – Hoshea, Amos, Yeshayahu, and Micha (toward the middle of the period of the kings of the First Temple) – the King of Egypt cancelled the punishment of sale of the debtor as a slave to pay the debt. However, he did not do this out of moral or compassionate concern, but based on consideration that if these people become slaves, they will not be paying taxes and will not be able to be drafted to the army. In Rome of the same time, if selling the debtor’s wife and children did not ensure the loan’s full payment, there was even a possibility to have him killed.
According to British law up to around 250 years ago, the creditor could hold the debtor in his dungeon. There were not even serious requirements for the creditor to feed him. The law states that if the debtor’s family cannot feed him sufficiently, it is fitting that he should die of famine. In contrast, our prophets and Chazal spoke strongly about the dignity due a debtor who has not paid.
Unfortunately, at times, members of our nation learned the practices of the surrounding nations rather than the laws of the Torah. Melachim II, 4:1 talks about the widow and orphans who were in debt, and the creditors came to sell the orphans as slaves. Chazal identify the creditor as King Yehoram, the son of Achav and Izevel. Yehoram was soon thereafter killed by Yehu ben Nimshi, who was coronated by the prophet Yona, who was carrying out the prophecy of Eliyahu. Chazal say that this was a punishment for his taking children as slaves without mercy (Shemot Rabba 31:4).
In these days of Elul, we should remember that Jews are required to be merciful, as many of our forebears were. At the time of Achav, Am Yisrael were victorious in battle because they were unified. May we once again excel at this and have full success in fighting our vicious enemies.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
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.