YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Behar
The only "national meeting" with Hashem in history was the revelation at Sinai. The Torah was given in the desert, and most of its mitzvot apply in all places and times, but some mitzvot only apply in Eretz Yisrael, and it is also the ideal place for fulfilling all the mitzvot. Thus, there is an eternal link between Har Sinai and the Holy Land.
The mitzvot of Shemitta (7-year cycle) and Yovel (50-year cycle), which strictly regulate the working of agriculture and commerce, give expression to the Land’s sanctity. Even the mundane in Eretz Yisrael is holy, and agriculture here is a sacred undertaking. It is as the Chatam Sofer (to Sukka 36a) said: "Included in the mitzva of settling Eretz Yisrael is to extract its holy fruit, about which the Torah commanded, ‘You shall harvest your grain’ … it is as if to say ‘I will not put on tefillin because I am learning Torah,’ so too one should not say, ‘I will not harvest my grain because of my involvement in Torah.’" This Torah giant continues, that the same is true for any profession that develops society.
This teaches us a critical lesson. Any involvement that engenders development of the community of Eretz Yisrael, from a scientific, economic, manufacturing, or technological perspective, as well as a perspective of transportation or ecology, is connected to this mitzva. The Chatam Sofer hinted at the connection between this and the strong sign of the process of liberation: "Oh mountains of Israel: You will develop branches, which will bear fruit for my nation Israel, for they are about to come" (Yechezkel 36:8, see Sanhedrin 98a). This sign applies to all development, not just agricultural. In our times, we are blessed with agricultural and especially technological success.
For the mitzva of yovel, which is connected to Shemitta, there is another element. The assumption behind this mitzva is that public economic life is handled according to Torah laws. Such an agrarian reform can only be accomplished with an independent Jewish state, which can regulate such activity, and specifically in Eretz Yisrael.
The gemara (Sanhedrin 20b) lists the three mitzvot that became operative when Bnei Yisrael entered the Land: 1. Appointing a king; 2. Wiping out the offspring of Amalek; 3. Building a Temple. The gemara derives that the above is the necessary order of fulfillment. In conceptual and practical terms, creating a state is equivalent to appointing a king. Without stable governance, one cannot build and operate an army and it is needed for a major project like building a Temple. Only when David was well established was he able to start the process of building the Beit Hamikdash (see Shmuel II, 6-7).
Yom Yerushalayim is a critical part of the holidays of national reemergence. Hashem arranged matters so that the modern national days fall out between Pesach and Shavuot. Lag Ba’omer too is related to Rabbi Akiva’s and Rabbi Shimon’s support of the Jewish army. This is a good introductory period before Shavuot.
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.