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Rav Neventzal (Sichot L’Yom Hakippurim, pp. 95-104) asks a simple but insightful question. Hashem did challenge Noach’s neighbors to prevent Noach from entering the ark and the Egyptians from allowing Bnei Yisrael from leaving. Each was naturally capable of preventing the event. However, why would Bnei Yisrael think that they could prevent Moshe from dying?
One could answer based on the Midrash Tanchuma (Vaetchanan 6) that Hashem offered Moshe that he could enter the Land, but the price was that Bnei Yisrael would have to be destroyed, an offer Moshe rejected. Perhaps Bnei Yisrael would have taken a drastic step of agreeing to have a plague or the like to take responsibility for its shortcomings, thus forcing Hashem to allow Moshe to live.
In any case, Rav Neventzal cites a different answer in the name of Rav Chaim Shmulevitz. Had Hashem allowed them to do so, Bnei Yisrael could have prayed in an extremely sincere, impassioned manner for Moshe’s survival, which would have kav’yachol forced Hashem to accept their prayers. We find a similar concept in the gemara in Ketubot (104a) regarding the death of Rebbi (Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi). He was suffering greatly as he was on the verge of death, as the righteous of his generation prayed beneath his home for his survival. Seeing his situation, his servant prayed that the heavenly beings who wanted Rebbi should overcome the people who wanted him to live, but the people were praying too strongly, and he thus did not die. The servant threw a jug near the crowd, with the explosion silencing the prayers for long enough for Rebbi to die.
We see from these sources how exceptionally strong the power of tefilla is. Of course, not every prayer is intense enough to be a formidable force for Hashem to reckon with. As Rav Neventzal points out briefly (and we, even more briefly) not every wish should be prayed for and not always does one get the response he desires. But every proper prayer is noticed and leaves some kind of mark in the Heavens and the earth.
When we say that "repentance, prayer, and charity can remove the harm of the decree" these words are literal and powerful beyond our natural expectations. Let us take them seriously and make the most of the powerful tools we were granted.
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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.
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.
