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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.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.