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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
King David realized the dream, as he established with Hashem’s help, a united state, whose army liberated Yerushalayim and defended the country’s borders. The next goal was to reach world peace and liberate the world by sharing with it the values of morality and justice. This was behind Shlomo’s building of the Beit Hamikdash and inviting the nations there for prayer and service of Hashem. The furtherance of this spiritual partnership found expression in the words of the prophets Yeshayahu and Micha, after Shlomo did not finish the work.
Unfortunately, the attempt failed and the dream was pushed off. This was impacted by the break among the tribes of the First Temple and the baseless hatred of the Second Temple, so that it must wait for the End of Days.
The beginning of this period of geula was when students of the Vilna Gaon came to Eretz Yisrael 200 years ago. The Gaon taught his students that in order to receive Divine Assistance, it was necessary to act towards the goals and allow the liberation to proceed step by step on the long road of building the Land, establishing Torah centers in Yerushalayim, and, finally, establishing a Jewish state with an army and police force. Then there will be a basis for Hashem’s blessing to take hold on. First, the army must fight the nation’s enemies, like David did.
The second stage is to fulfill Tzefania’s prophecy, to prepare the whole world to serve Hashem together: "Then I will turn to the nations with clear speech so that all will call out in Hashem’s Name and serve Him with one shoulder" (3:9; see Rambam, Melachim 11:4). The Rambam invokes Bilam’s prophecies, which compares Bnei Yisrael to a lion who is rising. It blesses the allies of Bnei Yisrael and curses its enemies, as Avraham was promised (Bereishit 12:3).
The State of Israel and indeed the whole world are in a very special time period. The Middle East has changed dramatically. One evil regime after another have fallen or been greatly weakened. The ring of fire that was supposed to burn the Jewish state now burns itself. Hamas has been brought to returning our hostages and will have to give up its arms and dreams of continuing to rule in Gaza. The nations keep the Noahide laws. The Arab nations will come to have a fair judicial system (dinim). They will move away from cruelty, even to animals (ever min hachai). There will be societies with families with two partners who respect each other, thereby bringing peace to the home. Women will no longer be treated like slaves or prizes for lowly murderers. Lebanon has started to act like a country with one army, aiming to live in peace among its neighbors. Hezbollah will be forced to give up its arms and its satanic plans for Israel and non-Shiite Lebanese. Syria will join the Abraham Accords and humanity. Iran will be freed from its regime of intimidation of its own citizens and others and its development of weapons of mass destruction.
So will we take steps toward world liberation, as Tzefania foresaw. Let us unite as a nation so that we can make this a reality, along with our allies, those who bless us.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
