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Beit Midrash
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Up to the days of Shaul (from the Tribe of Binyamin, which was considered an extension of the Tribes of Yosef), the idea that leadership would come from the descendants of Leah finds little expression. (We discuss why in the upcoming Tzofnat Shmuel). When David became king, the window opened to the possibility of remedying the situation. The first ones to realize this opportunity were the children of Shaul.
The first one who tried to unify the leadership between the tribes was Yonatan, son of Shaul and thus a descendant of Rachel. Right after David killed Goliat, Yonatan made a pact with him and took off his cloak and weapons and gave them to David (Shmuel I 18:3-4). Yonatan explained elsewhere the content of the pact – David would be king, and Yonatan would be his viceroy. If this had come to fruition, Bnei Yisrael would have had the perfect situation – a king from the sons of Leah and his number two from the sons of Rachel, along the lines of the blessing of the people of Beit Lechem. Unfortunately, Yonatan’s death in battle on Mt. Gilboa prevented this.
The second attempt was by Shaul’s daughter Michal, who strove to marry David and thereby make him her father’s son-in-law (see ibid. 18:20). Had this worked, unity would have been reached on two planes. Right away, David would have had the standing of the son-in-law of the king. Yonatan, the heir apparent, would have cooperated, and they could have ruled together. In the second generation, David’s children from Michal would have been a combination of Mashiach, the son of Yosef and Mashiach, the son of David. Unfortunately, severe problems disrupted this. Shaul decided to use the proposed match as a way of getting David killed (ibid. 21-25). Shaul demanded that David earn this match by embarking alone on a virtual suicide mission against the Plishtim. Even when David succeeded against all odds, Shaul still continued to look for ways to have him killed (ibid. 29). When this did not succeed, Shaul gave Michal to Palti ben Layish as a wife. Only after Shaul died, did Michal return to David, but the union did not result in offspring.
Next week we will continue to look into unity between Rachel and Leah in the time of David.
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.
