YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Chukat
Whereas the clouds are mentioned in various contexts throughout the Chumash, the well and its water disappear from discussion until our parasha. Here, the Torah tells of Miriam’s death (Bamidbar 20:1), the shortage of water (ibid. 2), the complaints, divine intervention, and the mistake of Moshe and Aharon (ibid. 3-13). The gemara (ibid.) derives from the proximity of events that the water must have been in Miriam’s merit, which is why it disappeared when she died. The same pattern appears several p’sukim later – Aharon died (ibid. 29), and Bnei Yisrael became vulnerable because of the disappearance of the protective clouds (see ibid. 21:1 with Rashi). This too was the proof that the clouds had been in the merit of Aharon.
This should inspire an important lesson. When things are going well, we forget the blessings we have, and even when we think about them, we do not always know who to thank for them. Sometimes, only when the people who deserve recognition are gone, do we realize that had we noticed, we could have thanked them all along. Similarly, the impact of the Beit Hamikdash on Jewish life was clear on many levels at its time. However, Chazal tell us that when it was destroyed, all sorts of deficiencies and curses came up (Sota 48a). Presumably, the nation were unaware that the absence of these problems was thanks to the Beit Hamikdash.
There, though, is a difference between the hidden value of Miriam and that of Aharon. Aharon was, after all, a visible part of the efforts to bring about the Exodus, and throughout the time in the desert, he was the kohen gadol. When he died, the Torah says that everyone cried (Bamidbar 20:29). Miriam is barely mentioned throughout the Torah, and upon her death, we are not told that the nation cried. In her first mention in the Torah, watching her baby brother on the Nile and arranging his reuniting with his mother (Shemot 2:4-9), she is called only "his sister." Chazal teach us that Miriam is also Puah, who helped with childbirth (Rashi to ibid. 1:15). She is also the "uncredited" one who convinced her father and, through him many others, to return to childbearing (Rashi to ibid. 2:1). Miriam changed Bnei Yisrael, and was happy to do it behind the scenes and anonymously, only stepping forward into the limelight, when there was a rare need to act publicly by example, leading the women in song and dance after the Splitting of the Sea (Shemot 15:21).
In their own way, many women, and some men, are able to make their greatest contributions anonymously and behind the scenes. At the end, each will get their reward, either to be belatedly recognized, or to receive the deserved reward from Hashem alone.
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.
