YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Passover - Pesach
- The Seventh Day of Pesach
The painting was so breathtakingly realistic—the shading of the leaves, the reflection on the water, the texture of the rocks—that it transcended art. When it was finally unveiled in the royal gallery, the viewers were stunned. However, a strange thing happened:
Instead of praising the artist for his skill, the people began to walk right past him. They pointed at the painting and said, "Look at that beautiful forest! Look at how clear that water is!" Because the painting was TOO PERFECT, the people forgot it was a painting at all. They MISTOOK IT FOR A WINDOW. They believed they were looking at reality, and thus, they saw no need to credit the artist.
The artist, seeing that his genius was being overlooked because of its very perfection, walked up to the canvas. In front of the gasping crowd, he took a knife and SLASHED THE CANVAS right down the middle.
Only when the "sky" tore and the "mountains" parted did the people realize: "This wasn't nature. This was the work of a master creator."
The Moral: Why the Sea Split
The Dubno Maggid explains that this is how God runs the world.
• The Painting: The "Natural World" is God's masterpiece. It is so consistent, so beautiful, and so perfectly functional that humans often mistake it for a self-sustaining system. We see the sun rise and the tides turn, and we call it "Nature," forgetting the Artist behind it.
• The Tear: On the seventh day of Passover, the Jewish people were trapped at the sea. To remind the world (and the Jewish people) that "Nature" is merely a canvas, God "slashed" the sea.
• The Lesson: When the water—which naturally flows—stood up like a wall, the "canvas" of nature was torn. In that moment, everyone realized that the water only flows because the Artist wills it to flow.
As the Midrash says, even a handmaid at the sea saw a level of prophecy greater than the prophet Ezekiel. By "tearing" the world, God forced everyone to look past the scenery and see the Creator.
This is why we read the Shira (Song of the Sea) and the Haftarah of David on the 7th day of Pesach. Both are songs of recognition. After the "tearing of the canvas," the people finally had the clarity to sing, "This is my God, and I will glorify Him." [cited by my friend and relative R. Paysach Krohn, may this bring merit to his speedy refuah shleima among the rest of the wounded and sick of Israel].
Similarly, we've gotten so used to Hashem's salvation via the IDF in our present war with Iran, we can mistakenly take it all for granted! Often the only time one thinks of the wash-machine manufacturer is when it breaks down! Let's learn from Moshe & David HaMelech, that the wars of Israel are also run by G-d, as Rav Kook points out: "בעל מלחמות... מצמיח ישועות" (Orot HaMilchama, 2) or in the words of chazal, "מלחמות נמי אתחלתא דגאולה היא", "wars are also the beginning of redemption" (Megilla 17b, incidentally, the only time the term "atchalta d'ge'ula" is found in the Talmud, is regarding the wars of Israel which not only shouldn't get us down, but are actually part of the process, as seen in Yechezkel 38-39, and Zecharia 14!). Chag Same'ach, appreciating Hashem's miracles בימים ההם ובזמן הזה ! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.