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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Tanach
What needs investigation is the continuation of Moshe’s words: "I did not do evil to one of them (achad mehem)." What injustice was Moshe ruling out that we might have suspected? The Pesikta explains that it just comes to dispute Korach and his entourage’s claim that Moshe and his brother were seeking to rule over the rest of the nation. Along the lines of the Pesikta , the Chizkuni explains these words that even to those who had wronged Moshe and logically deserved punishment or harsh treatment in response, like Datan and Aviram, Moshe did not do evil.
Midrash Rabba has an interesting explanation. Moshe was saying: "I did not obligate the exempt or credit he who was obligated." What is particularly interesting about this explanation is that it assumes correctly that it is a disservice for a litigant who deserves to lose a case to end up winning the case improperly.
The Ramban comments as follows. Although Moshe was considered like a king, he did not force people to work for him, escorting his chariot or otherwise, nor did he favor anyone in judgment or disgrace anyone. The Ramban, who knew the kings of Spain, understood that the standard practice of kings was to cause hardship to others in an effort to elevate their status or place fear in their subjects’ hearts. Moshe and Shmuel informed the people that they avoided such behavior.
Let us end off with the novel idea of the Meshech Chuchma. It is unfortunately a common practice in the world of politics, where people vie for positions of leadership, that candidates besmirch each other and try to gain by means of the disgrace of their rivals. In past times also, it was apparently common that one would burrow into his rival’s past and try to uncover unsightly information. These same candidates would act humble in relation to the populace to try to show their modest side. The Meshech Chuchma says that it is not a big deal to act humble in front of those in whose eyes one is trying to find favor. Rather, one should lower his head in regard to achad mehem, in other words, before the prominent among the nation who are rivals. This is something that Moshe succeeded in, and it is a sign of the true humility that caused Hashem to refer to him as the most humble person on the face of the earth (Bamidbar 12:3).
How important it is to learn even a little from Moshe Rabbeinu’s example!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
