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Beit Midrash
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- 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.
Army and War "If Haredim Should Serve in the IDF, So Should You"
IDF Service for Young Jewish Men from America
Army and War "If Haredim Should Serve in the IDF, So Should You"
IDF Service for Young Jewish Men from America
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.
