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Beit Midrash
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Another intriguing pattern occurs with Yehuda’s sons. Peretz, Yehuda’s firstborn from Tamar, appears in our parasha among those who descended to Egypt, along with his firstborn, Hetzron (46:12). Peretz is the patriarch of the royal dynasty (Mashiach is called "son of Peretz"). Yet Divrei Hayamim reveals a surprise: Hetzron had three sons—Yerachme’el, Ram, and Kluvai (I, 2:9), and David descended from Ram, the second son, not Yerachme’el (2:10-15). Thus, the phenomenon of leadership not coming from the firstborn occurred in both families.
The struggle for leadership continued into the next generation. Menashe and Ephrayim enjoyed noble status in Egypt through Yosef’s position, while Yehuda’s sons claimed leadership as descendants of the brothers’ leader who took responsibility for Benjamin. Both claimants’ statuses were influenced by their wives’ identities, as marriage often was a tool in the pursuit of status.
Divrei Hayamim reveals that Menashe had two wives. According to the Metzudot’s explanation of a cryptic pasuk (I, 7:14), Menashe married a proper Jewish woman but then took an Aramean concubine during a war of conquest. As taking a concubine is proper only for kings (Rambam, Melachim 4:4), he declared himself a king and created international diplomatic ties with Arameans. This marriage to a foreign princess for political purposes disqualified him from leadership and firstborn status. However, since he also married a proper woman, he lost his status only partially, and her descendants received inheritance in Eretz Yisrael proper. Those from his Aramean concubine were pushed east of the Jordan.
Similar events occurred in Yehuda’s family: "Yerachme’el had another wife, and her name was Atara; she was the mother of Onam" (Divrei Hayamim I 2:26). The term "another wife" hints at a serious problem, resembling the navi’s use of this phrase regarding Yiftach’s mother (Shoftim 11:2). According to the Yerushalmi (Sanhedrin 2:3), Yerachme’el married a non-Jewish woman to adorn himself with her crown. Atara was a high-ranking Egyptian princess. Yerachme’el thought this marriage would secure his status of nobility, but the result was the opposite, as with Menashe’s concubine.
These episodes teach that moral missteps disqualify one from leadership. Both cases occurred before the giving of the Torah, yet the consequences were harsh. Since the Torah was given, "marriage" with a non-Jew is strictly forbidden. Additionally, the children of a Jewish man and non-Jewish woman are not Jewish and can only enter the Jewish covenant through full conversion. Even when the mother is Jewish and the father is not, assimilation almost certainly occurs quickly.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.