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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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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
