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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Behar
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
The final laws of the "social section" regulate non-Jews’ ownership of Jewish slaves. A non-Jew can "own" a Jew even in the Land of Israel, even under Jewish dominion (see Rashi to Vayikra 25:48). However, the Torah mandates certain limitations. Just as a Jew must set his Jewish slave free in yovel (Vayikra 25:10), so must the non-Jewish slave-owner (ibid.:54). Just as a Jew may not abuse the slave (ibid.:42) so mustn’t a non-Jew (ibid.:53). In both cases, the slave has the right to be redeemed at a fair price (ibid.:48; Kiddushin 14b). In each case, the Torah explains the rationale behind not allowing permanent slave ownership: "For they are My slaves, whom I took out of Egypt" (ibid.: 42, 55).
After discussing the need for the Jewish slave to remain Hashem’s servant and mandating his eventual freedom, the Torah forbids idolatry and work on Shabbat. Rashi explains that the Torah reminds the slave not to copy his more socially successful master in these areas. The Seforno explains similarly that while the Jewish slave must be obedient to his non-Jewish master, he may not follow instructions that involve sinning, whether it is idolatry, Shabbat, or another sin.
Looking back at ancient and recent history, we should recall that even when formal slavery did not exist, social pressure required Jews to temper the dependence on the non-Jews around them with the mandate to remain loyal first and foremost to Hashem. So whether pogroms or Emancipation made it seem more glamorous or profitable to adopt non-Jewish practices, Parashat Behar, which extends into what gentiles call Leviticus 26, tells us that we must not give in. Non-Jewish employers (or Jews who forgot Jewish values) would say to Jewish workers (/slaves): "If you don’t come to work on Saturday, don’t come on Monday." The brave among our grandparents dared to follow the instructions of Behar’s last p’sukim, remaining loyal servants of Hashem despite temptation and pressure.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
