Beit Midrash

  • Family and Society
  • The Education of Children and Students
קטגוריה משנית
To dedicate this lesson

The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of

Rachel Bat Yakut

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The rabbis have taught us that all beginnings are difficult. We see that the beginnings of humans as described in the Torah in its earliest chapters affirms this truism. Sin, jealousy, murder, paganism, robbery, corruption and injustice are all hallmarks of the early generations of humans. Of course, there are righteous people as well and the world is not completely bereft of acts of goodness, compassion and kindness. But the general picture portrayed by the Torah is a bleak one. Why should beginnings be so difficult? Why couldn’t the world have gotten off to a better start? The rabbis over the centuries have pondered over this problem and have reached one basic conclusion, though naturally each in their own different style and prose. Judaism views humans as being basically prone to evil behavior. The Torah itself states that the nature of humans is evil from its very youthful beginnings. As such, the only hope, in fact, the necessary imperative for civilization and its survival and progress is educating and training the young from their earliest years in the positive character traits of discipline, respect, cooperation, tolerance and non-violent behavior. A positive attitude towards life and living must be instilled early and often. Otherwise, the inherent evil attitude born within us will always rule over human actions and policies. The beginnings are difficult because we are born as narcissistic, selfish, self-centered people. Our world horizon is narrow. A baby cries and demands immediate attention no matter how tired and exhausted its mother may be. One never expects consideration from an infant or a toddler. It is when that infant and toddler grows older and still behaves so selfishly that the problems of humanity and society begin in earnest.

The Torah predicates itself upon a human being’s freedom of choice. Judaism does not believe or preach any items of predestination. Nevertheless, it is obvious that many things can influence that human being’s freedom of choice. By realizing that humans begin essentially from a minus position regarding their character traits and behavior, the necessity for self-improvement becomes obvious. All of the myriad tyrants, murderers, criminals and evil people of history and our current world began as cute cuddly little babies. Selfishness is tolerated from babies. But when one reaches physical maturity, such behavior is anti-social and evil. All of the values and commandments of the Torah came to help people grow and mature spiritually and psychologically. How one will apply the lessons of Torah to one’s own life and behavior is also a matter of freedom of choice. The inherent evil within us can twist all apparently good traits and use them for destructive and selfish ends. The rabbis always advised humans to not only analyze and correct one’s mistakes and bad behavior but one’s "good" deeds as well. For as all of the prayers of Yom Kippur indicated to us, our beginnings were tainted and the evil inclination still lurks deeply within our character.

Our rabbis pondered the necessity for the evil inclination, for selfishness and self-gratification, to be present within us at all. The Talmud relates to us that at the time of the great Ezra the Jewish leaders "trapped" the evil inclination and put out one of its eyes, however we will understand that metaphor. Therefore the rampant paganism that was present in First Temple times was greatly reduced amongst Jews in Second Temple times. The Talmud then asks why they did not put out the other eye as well. It answers that upon attempting to do so they realized that a hen would not continue to lay eggs and that the world as we know it could no longer function and exist. The evil inclination can be turned to positive uses. It must be disciplined, checked and reined in, and not be allowed to dominate human life and behavior. Nevertheless, since it is so ingrained within us, the Torah sought to channel it and redirect its goals but never to completely destroy its presence within us. Judaism teaches that by recognizing our beginnings we recognize the limitations and dangers that lurk within us. Only by recognizing them and admitting their presence can we then take the counter measures necessary to deal with those shortcomings and weaknesses. All beginnings are difficult. But ignoring those beginnings and not dealing with them correctly, judiciously and in a timely fashion makes life even more difficult for us and for others as well. The great holiday season just passed is a reminder to us as to our beginnings and the beginning of the world as we know it and our challenge to improve that world and ourselves.


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Lessons
  • Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
    Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
  • Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu
    Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu
  • Rabbi  Yosef Tzvi Rimon
    Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon
  • Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l
    Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l
  • Rabbi Chaim Drukman
    Rabbi Chaim Drukman
  • Rabbi David Chai Hacohen
    Rabbi David Chai Hacohen
  • Rabbi Benny Elon
    Rabbi Benny Elon
  • Rabbi Chaim Yerucham Smotrich
    Rabbi Chaim Yerucham Smotrich
  • Rabbi Sha'ar Yashuv Hacohen
    Rabbi Sha'ar Yashuv Hacohen
  • Rabbi Chanan Porat Z"l
    Rabbi Chanan Porat Z"l
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    Yitro

    Only Those Who Live In The Land Love G-d

    The Torah threatens punishment for idol-worshipers that is only 1/500th of the reward that the righteous will receive: "Concerning My enemies, I keep in mind the fathers' sins for their descendants, [only] to the 3rd and 4th generations. But for those who love Me and keep My commandments, I show love for [at least two] thousands of generations" (Sh'mot 20,5-6). The punishment is for four generations, and the reward for 2,000 generations. But the question we would like to address is: Why are the righteous termed both "those who love Me" and "those who keep My commandments?" Is not one enough?

    Rabbi Moshe Tzuriel | Shvat 19 5783
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    3 min
    Shlach Lecha

    For God's Sake Don't Go To Israel

    Israel National Torah

    Clarifying the spies' argument for not entering the Land of Israel...and then clarifying why it's so important to enter the Land anyway.

    Baruch Gordon | Sivan 19 5780
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    Serving as Chazan on the Shabbat Before a Yahrtzeit

    How important is it for someone to be chazan on the Shabbat before a yahrtzeit? Is it is just for parents, or also grandparents/in laws? Some people in my [the rabbi] shul feel that people use it as an excuse to “grab the amud.”

    Rabbi Daniel Mann | Tevet 2 5777
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    How Many Eggs Should be Boiled Together?

    When making hardboiled eggs, may one cook one or two eggs or must there be at least three? Also, does it make a difference if there is an even or odd number

    Rabbi Daniel Mann
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    P'ninat Mishpat

    Introduction and Biography of the Noda B’Yehuda

    After an extended period of presenting ideas of the Chatam Sofer on monetary disputes, we move on to a shorter series on the works of Rav Yechezkel Segal Landau, often called the Noda B’yehuda. (Although Rav Landau served as a dayan for many years, poskim do not usually publicize their rulings on cases in which they served as a dayan, but on questions asked by other rabbis. The Noda B’yehuda did not include many such cases in his reponsa.) Many view the Chatam Sofer and the Noda B’Yehuda as two of a kind. They were in the same basic time period (Rav Landau was around 50 years older), they were important rabbis of important communities at critical times, and the works of each are among the most respected and quoted by Acharonim.

    Various Rabbis | Tevet 8 5776
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    Working in a Non-Kosher Establishment

    Rabbi Daniel Mann | Sivan 14 5775
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    Prayer

    Birkot HaShachar – The Morning Blessings

    Chapter nine-part one

    Chapter nine-part one

    Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5775
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    Jewish Holidays

    The Twentieth of Sivan

    "I noticed that the back of my siddur contains a large section devoted to selichos for the 20th of Sivan, yet I have never davened in a shul that observed this day. What does this date commemorate?"

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Sivan 17 5780
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    Additional Lessons

    The Laws of Tumas Meis

    When the Beis Hamikdash is rebuilt, bimheirah beyameinu, the laws of tumah will affect us all, since we will be required to be tahor in order to enter the Beis Hamikdash, to eat korbanos and maaser sheini, and in order to separate challah and terumah.

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5772
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    Basics of Financial Laws

    How Does a Heter Iska Work?

    What is the prohibition of "Ribbit"? who does it apply on? How does the "Heter Iska" bypass the prohibition? and more...

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5770
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    Marriage and Relationships

    Relationships during the Time of Engagement

    A young engaged man and his fiancée naturally have very strong feelings for each other. It goes without saying that these will be expressed after the wedding, but what expression, if any, is permitted in the meantime? And while we're on the subject, is the attraction of men and women to each other really a good thing to begin with?

    Rabbi Elyakim Levanon | 5770
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    Other Great Leaders

    That a Cohen May Not Marry a Divorcee

    A few days later, a royal emissary of the Empress Maria Teresa appeared at the rabbi’s home. The surprised rabbi realized that the wealthy Jew had broken the convention by which Jews did not involve non-Jews in their inner disputes. He had no choice.

    Rabbi Shmuel Holshtein | 5769
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