YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Tazria
Micha, a prophet of the same generation, also uses this parable to describe the establishment of a future independent Jewish State (5:1-3). Micha invokes hints to King David, speaking of the youth from Beit Lechem. He infers that the future liberation will have similarities to the emergence of David to leadership, referring to the return to the Land after great tribulations (see Radak ad loc.).
Let us quote the preamble of Israel’s Declaration of Independence: "In the Land of Israel the Jewish Nation has arisen, in the place where its spiritual, religious, and political image was forged, in which it lived as a robust kingdom and created national and universal cultural resources and enriched the world with the eternal Book of Books." It ends off "… with trust in the Rock of Israel (Tzur Yisrael) and its savior, we hereby sign with our hands as testament of this declaration."
There are varied interpretations of the term Tzur Yisrael. The religious signatories explained that it shows trust in Hashem, one of whose titles is Tzur Yisrael. In contrast, those who did not identify as religious explained that they were referring to their faith in the strength of the Jewish People. The fact that so many from such differing world views were able to agree on a joint text for the declaration enabled a united front at that critical juncture in Jewish history. The earliest use of Tzur referring to Hashem is in the Song of Ha’azinu – "The Rock whose actions are complete, for all of His paths are justice" (Devarim 32:4).
The person who especially used the title Tzur for Hashem was King David, as it appears ten times in Tehillim and the Songs of David in Shmuel, including "Tzur Yisrael" (Shmuel II, 23:3). Some of those who did not want Hashem’s Name to be in the Declaration of Independence were happy to have a term coined by David, the first man after the entry to the Land who succeeded in uniting all of the tribes. A connection was felt between the state of King David and the state led by David Ben Gurion. The birth mentioned in the beginning of our parasha connects to the birth of the nation that left slavery in Egypt, as described in the Haggada, and the birth described by the prophets of the ultimate liberation.
This Shabbat, when we recite Kabbalat Shabbat and decide to sing to the Tzur of our salvation (Tehillim 95:1), we should also pray that all of the prophecies about the ultimate salvation, which have begun to be fulfilled, will continue to proceed along the path to the process’s glorious conclusion. The more we unite and serve as people responsible for the welfare of our brethren, the greater the chance of an earlier liberation.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
