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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Bereshit
The great gift of God to humans - the Shabat - is part of this week’s parsha. Shabat is the ultimate renewal, the weapon of resilience and freshness. It allows us on a weekly basis to make a new start and to shake off the disappointments and defeats of the past week. It is therefore no wonder that the Midrash assigns to Adam the authorship of the great psalm that begins "a song of melody to the day of the Shabat". For Adam now becomes the human example of psychological resilience, of raising one’s self somehow from the depths of guilt and depression and regaining purpose and focus and hope in life. Shabat is the symbol of the new week and of new opportunity and further accomplishment. Without the day of rest that renews us we are always destined to be jaded, tired and ultimately sad. The mantra of Judaism is the verse in Mishlei/Proverbs "the righteous may fall seven times but they always arise thereafter." The difference between righteousness and wickedness is apparently not in falling but in arising thereafter. Adam should therefore be remembered not as the forlorn and tragic figure as he is usually portrayed but rather as the first human to taste the beauty and renewing vitality of Shabat. Unfortunately but realistically, the past cannot be undone. But the future still awaits our creative efforts and talents to shape it and bring it to reality.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
