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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Bamidbar
- Family and Society
- The Jewish Household
- Women in Judaism
The Torah study is dedicatedto the full recovery of
Yehudah ben Hadasah Hinde Malkah
Why does the Torah mention the men so many times and leave out the women? Did the women not also go out to a desolate land and give birth to and educate children? They were at the giving of the Torah, answering, along with the men, "We will do and hear." They refused to take part in creating the Golden Calf. They clung to Eretz Yisrael and did not take part in the sin of the spies. Where did they disappear to?
We have discussed in the past that the stress on "by the house of the fathers" teaches the principle that every Jewish family should be based on. It is every Jewish child’s basic right to grow up in a family where he knows not only who his mother is but knows clearly who his father is. Doubts about this can raise issues as to the child’s ability to marry whom he likes. Laxness in this area could Heaven forbid hold back the Divine Presence from Am Yisrael and blur the difference between us and the nations. We must strive to fulfill the prophecy, "How good are your tents, Jacob, your living quarters, Israel" (Bamidbar 24:5).
What does the added phrase, l’mishpechotam (by their families) teach us? While the family nucleus should include a mother, father, daughter, and son to be complete, the mother is the most basic component that comprises the family and the subject of the pasuk above. The women then are referred to first in the pasuk, removing the question we asked.
The mother ensures the creation of the family unit and the continuity of the Jewish people. This is the highest value in the Jewish woman’s life, preceding communal work or self-development in other fields. This idea should be part of a young woman’s decision-making process as she chooses her course in life, which also affects the age she will be able to begin a family.
Let us give a practical, related idea. When a man redeems his ma’aser sheni (second tithe), which was to be used for spiritual growth in Jerusalem, he is penalized 25% for pushing off the growth. However, if a woman redeems her ma’aser sheni, she is not penalized (Rambam, Ma’aser Sheni 5:2). The reason, says the Meshech Chochma (Vayikra 27:31), is that we assume that it was the needs of raising a family that caused her to redeem.
We pray that women who, thank G-d, are educated in Torah and involved in the nation’s needs will successfully synthesize these values with that of motherhood that builds Jewish families.
Peninei Halakha 11. Shaving One’s Beard During the Three Weeks
Chapter 8: The Customs of the Three Weeks
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
