YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Tetzave
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
The efod (roughly, an apron) covered the kohen gadol’s torso. Over the efod was the choshen (breastplate). The two were connected by a blue string, whose purpose the Torah describes as "v’lo yizach hachoshen me’al ha’efod" (the breastplate shall not be separated from the efod) (Shemot 28:28). Remember this pasuk as we take a look at the linguistic proof that an important gemara learns from it.
The gemara (Chulin 6b-7a) tells the story of R. Yehuda Hanasi, who arrived at a major leniency regarding ma’asrot (tithes) in the region of Beit She’an. He was asked how he could do such a thing considering that his predecessors had assumed differently than he. If his thesis were true, would his more illustrious predecessors have missed it? He answered by citing a pasuk about Chizkiyahu (Melachim II, 18) who destroyed the copper snake that Moshe had used in the desert because people were attributing powers to it and straying from Hashem. Although previous great removers of idolatry, Asa and Yehoshafat, had left it, the "Heavens left room for him to act with greatness." So too, said R. Yehuda, the Heavens left him room to uncover information that warranted changing the assumptions about Beit She’an.
The gemara concludes that from here we learn that if a talmid chacham says something surprisingly novel, we do not pressure him to retract it (Rashi, ad loc.). The gemara gives three similar-sounding options for the word used to be tolerant of the talmid chacham. One of them, mazichin is derived from our pasuk, "lo yizach," do not separate. At first glance, use of our pasuk is only technical/linguistic. However, there may be more to it.
How can we trust a rabbi to arrive at something that appears new? Isn’t Torah scholarship based on tradition, not innovation? The choshen (hamishpat) is named for its connection to expertise in the field of justice and is the base for the urim v’tumim, which reveals Divine secrets. The gemara may be hinting that in any generation, a true "secret" can be uncovered with Divine assistance. Even the discovery’s timing may be Divine. On the other hand, there is an important implied condition. It is forbidden to remove the choshen from the efod, which must be connected by a special string (Yoma 72a). As the efod served as atonement for idol worship (Zevachim 88b), it must work positively with the heart it covers to connect one to fear of Hashem. Similarly, a Torah innovator must be connected by a chain of tradition to the Torah and fear of Hashem, like R. Yehuda Hanasi. Then he is entitled to the benefit of the doubt that his ideas are not a break from a tradition but an addition of a link.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.