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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Tzav
Tannaim debate when this arvut obtained full force (see Sanhedrin 43b). R. Yehuda maintains that national liability for hidden sins did not begin until Bnei Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael. R. Nechemia asserts that Bnei Yisrael were not liable to punishment for even revealed sins before crossing the Jordan. This phemonenon heightens the impact of Eretz Yisrael from both a national and a spiritual perspective.
The covenantal (brit) element of Sinai is repeated at Mt. Grizim and Mt. Eval, as Moshe commanded Yehoshua. The nation accepted the blessings and curses with an affimation of "Amen" (see Devarim 27, Sota 32a), and the dynamic of the involvement of the various tribes, and the arvut engendered in it, are major. The gemara (ibid. 37a-b) continues to show the vastness of the covenant – encompassing the individual and the collective, the elements of learning the mitzva’s details, teaching them, and the dedication to and performance of the mitzvot. Including the brit at Sinai and before entering the Land, every mitzva of the Torah was confirmed with 48 britot of all six-hundred-thousand plus Jews. This comes to tens of millions of britot upon which we are all arevim.
Even if we do not adopt the literal element of the numerical magnitude of the mutual responsibility, the responsibility toward the spirituality of our brethren, the House of Israel, is uniquely powerful. Tragically, the fire of dispute and fragmentation is spreading these days like a wildfire, and it is in complete contrast to what, as we have seen, is our basic national responsibility.
This time of the year, we are noting our entering the Land, which occurred soon before Pesach (10 Nisan – Yehoshua 4:19), in addition to the freedom from enslavement, physical and spiritual, on Pesach. Soon thereafter, we commemorate the giving of the Torah. In our generation, new important commerations arose – remembrances for the victims of the Holocaust and victims of the struggle for the creation and upholding of our national independence in the State of Israel. This is a great backdrop to remember our obligation of mutual responsibility. This is a reason to increase love of our nation and our fellow Jews, and to try to speak positively about all of them, even if we do not agree with the actions and philosophies of some. If we focus on our stake in the welfare of every brother and sister, we can reach understandings with 90% of the population on the matters that challenge our unity. This is the way to proceed to make us fit for the coming of Mashiach.
We conclude with a homiletic point – arvut is hinted at already in Creation, with the words "It was erev (evening) and it was morning, day one" (Bereishit 1:5). Let us say – if we will each be an arev, we will see the dawning of the long-awaited day of redemption, the day of Oneness, when Hashem will be One and His Name will be One (Zecharia 14:9). Then we will see victory, when Hashem judges the mountain of Eisav and restores His full Kingdom (Ovadia 1:21).
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.
