Yeshiva
Beit MidrashAsk the RabbiCalendarWikiDedications
Eve of Sunday 21 Cheshvan 5787

Dedicate the study in the website

Dedicate

Yeshiva
 Beit Midrash

Beit Midrash
  • Torah Portion and Tanach
  • Bereshit
  • Vayera
קטגוריה משנית
undefined
0
A Lesson for the RoadShorts AreaFemale LessonParashat HashavuaSeriesLibraryPiskei Din (Hebrew)Test Yourself
Chazal teach that when many twigs are grouped together they cannot be broken, and when Israel learns this, we will be redeemed (Yalkut Shimoni, Amos 549). The essence of Am Yisrael is to teach monotheism=unity to the world, so when we function accordingly, the Ge'ula will inevitably be here. We find that although Lot left Avraham to live in the evil town of Sodom (13, 13; 19, 29), his righteous uncle, who even argues with G-d to defend even evil people whom he doesn't even know (Breishit 18), as he hosts them as well (ibid), how much more so he fought to save his problematic nephew and BIL when he was KIDNAPPED. The Torah is clearly teaching that we should care about each other no matter what, and how much more so regarding our family. "Blood is thicker than water". Let's also not forget that Lot is an orphan- had a difficult life and there's no one else to save him! Avraham Avinu is not naïve, and despite Lot's problematic decisions, he is patient, 'Let there not be a feud between us, nor between my shepherds and your shepherds" (13, 8), even offering 1st choice: "If you go to the left I will go to the right". If Avraham and Am Yisrael's job is precisely to teach mankind "צדקה ומשפט", justice and righteousness (18, 19), how much more so does he obviously show this within his family, for "the poor of your city come first" (Bava Metzia 71a). Before teaching mankind, we must firstly learn how to overcome differences within our own family. We shouldn't be surprised at the outcome of the elections in Israel. "If you have 2 Jews, you have 3 opinions". Chazal taught (Beitza 25b) that "Israel is the most insolent of all nations", and the Maharal explains that there's a fine line between idealism and stubbornness. In America it's enough to have 2 political parties, but the tiny Jewish State needs 14! But mathematically, if Arab parties aren't going to be in the coalition (accepted by both Jewish blocs, for just as they don't serve in the IDF, those parties' votes are generally AGAINST the better interest of the State), the only choice is a National Unity government. The election outcome was a Godly gift which doesn't leave us any choice. Holding another election won't solve the problem of either of the 2 blocs. If Israeli Jews agree on 80% of all issues, Chazal teach "whomever veers from the norm, the burden of proof is upon him" (Bava Metziah 6, 2). Today, there's agreement that the "2 state solution" is irrelevant, and that we need Jewish settlement in Judea & Samaria, not leaving room for digging of terror-tunnels and attacking cities. The norm in democracies is that each party elects their own leader, we must follow the law, pay taxes and serve in the army when we are at war. 11 of 12 of the Jewish parties, even agree that there's a need for some kind of judicial reform, so let's simply not veer from the norms of most democracies. So what's the problem? If we are all against international boycotts against Jews & Israel, we should all agree on the same towards each other. Even if you oppose the present Prime Minister, everyone agrees that part of democracy is to let each party choose their leader. Even if before elections parties present certain platforms, if the outcome shows that this or that detail is irrelevant for a National Unity government, then that's precisely what should be omitted, and don't veer from the norm. The objective way to unity is to leave out the most extreme topics and elements to focus on almost everything which unites us (as we did in the beginning of the war). Who is the extreme? Let them decide for themselves, simply if they choose to VEER from the norm or not. How do Haredim fit in? By simply NOT veering from the original line of their own poskim: Rav Kahaneman, the Chazon Ish, Rav Shach, Rav Ovadia Yosef, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rav Elyashiv all said to only exempt yeshiva boys who are learning Torah full-time. Even though I and many leading rabbis halachically disagree & can convincingly disprove them with unanimously accepted sources, even explicit Mishnayot (Sotah 8, 7), if we just start with that authentic Haredi opinion, by drafting tens of thousands of Haredim who aren't learning full-time, that may be enough to solve the IDF shortage. How much more would those aforementioned true gedolim of the Haredim hold this opinion when today we even have totally Haredi units, and kal vachomer when Am Yisrael is at war. Why doesn't Rav Shmuel Auerbach, leader of the extremist Peleg Yerushalmi of the Haredim, just listen to his own much greater father, R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach? It's not a complicated solution, if we notice who "veered" from their own norm, and decided to harm national unity & become more extreme. Many ask if the figure-head president of Israel is really necessary, but here we see there's a need for a "responsible adult" to be the objective arbitrator, delineate the accepted norm, and stop the personal squabbles (especially when ideologically, both Lieberman and Bennet- that's 2 of the 3 other leaders- have worked closely with Netanyahu in the past!). Individual twigs, nor half a nation, cannot win any war nor run an economy. How much more so when our very job is to teach unity even among the most idealistic (and insolent) oppositions! Shabbat SHALOM! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
undefined

Rabbi Ari Shvat

Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
  • Mitzvot Which Seem “Outdated” in General or Unfair to Women
    44 min
    Observing Mitzvot

    Mitzvot Which Seem “Outdated” in General or Unfair to Women

    Adar 13 5781
  • Two Ways of Influencing the Gentile Nations
    41 min
    Ein Aya

    Two Ways of Influencing the Gentile Nations

    Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 44

    Kislev 1 5775
  • What Should We "Take Home" from the Corona Crisis?
    36 min
    The Coronavirus Pandemic

    What Should We "Take Home" from the Corona Crisis?

    Iyar 16 5780
  • Complete G-dliness Doesn't Weaken But Enhances Natural Drives
    44 min
    Ein Aya

    Complete G-dliness Doesn't Weaken But Enhances Natural Drives

    Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 50

    Kislev 15 5775
Vayera
Vayera
Popular Lessons
Popular Lessons
Recent Lessons
Recent Lessons

Rabbis in Midrash

Lessons
fast navigation
עוד Lessons
Personal area

Join now to watch your latest lessons and questions and continue watching series' of lessons right from the time you left them.

את המידע הדפסתי באמצעות אתר yeshiva.org.il