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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Va'era
Yaakov, who yearned his whole life to see his family united, left a testament – the blessings for his descendants – clearly establishing that the "crown" would rest on Yosef’s head, but that Yehuda had the right to be a partner. This would achieve unity between Rachel’s sons and Leah’s sons. Yosef’s prominence was rooted in reality, as he was Paroh’s all-powerful viceroy, but it far exceeded this factor and was connected to his mother, Rachel. Yaakov even had a first thought that Dan, the firstborn of Rachel’s maidservant, would be the antecedent of the Mashiach (see Bereishit Rabbati regarding "Dan will judge his nation like one of the tribes of Israel" (Bereishit 49:16)).
We return then, to our question from last week: How does the transfer of leadership to Moshe at the beginning of Shemot align with Yaakov’s plans? We already raised the idea that descendants of Ephrayim, Yosef’s more prominent son, failed, during the Exile, to make good use of his leadership, when they tried to improperly "jumpstart" the liberation. We will now look at a different approach.
To bring the people out of Egypt and receive the Torah required an exceptionally unique leader with two qualities: First, he needed leadership skills, acquired by growing up as a prince in the royal palace. Second, he had to tower above all the people so significantly that no one could ever challenge him, ensuring that "Moshe is true and his Torah is true" would always be a sacred principle. Thus, Moshe was chosen on a one-time basis, as the leader needed for the times, even though he was not a descendant of Yosef or Yehuda.
The Tribe of Ephrayim was clearly displeased with this (see precedent in Shoftim 8:1-3). Moshe addressed this challenge by appointing Yehoshua bin Nun as his deputy, declaring in effect that he was not claiming permanent leadership, which would remain with Ephrayim. Already in the battle against Amalek, Yehoshua was the partner-leader, as the pasuk says "Moshe said to Yehoshua, ‘Choose men for us and go fight Amalek.’" Rashi emphasizes: "‘For us’ – for me and you, making him equal to himself." Moshe's greatness, including his humility, is fully revealed. The willingness to share leadership for unity’s sake is key to victory over Amalek and success against all challenges.
But what about Yehuda? Yehoshua also had a partner: Calev ben Yefuneh. The gemara (Sota 11b) identifies him as Calev ben Chetzron, son of Peretz, Yehuda’s firstborn through Tamar, ancestor of the royal dynasty (see Divrei Hayamim I. 2:18).
Thus, under Moshe’s leadership, Israel united. Alongside Moshe stood Yehoshua from Ephrayim/Rachel and Calev from Yehuda/Leah.
Here too, and throughout history, humility is essential for achieving unity.
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.
