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Beit Midrash
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Still, as Hasidic masters pointed out, these days, for the most part occur in the month of Iyar which, links to some hidden light inherent in these days. From the sadness and tragedy of the Sefira perio , they said ,there will emerge a great light.
For many years, this Hasidic understanding of the hidden light inherent in the Sefira period was accepted as a matter of faith. Our generation however saw the fulfillment, in reality, of this Hasidic teaching about Seirat HaOmer.Two holydays were established , in the month of Iyar ,that truly brought, and continue to bring, much light and joy to our lives :Yom HaAtzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim.
Indeed we have a hint of this miracle in this week's Parasha. The Parasha has within it the Tochacha, the terrible curses, that will befall Knesset Israel when they do not observe the Mitzvot. But this Parasha with its horrific punishments and ultimate exile ends with the following statements; "And still with when you will be in the lands of your enemies.. I will not.destroy My covenant with them" G-d says that ultimately the covenant with the Jewish people will never be destroyed. What is the vehicle for this?
Says the Parasha " And I will remember the covenant Yaakov and also the covenant with Yitzhak and also the covenant with Avraham I will remember AND THE Land I Will REMEMBER".
In other words G-d will remember us via the land. The land will at times be surrounded by enemies. There will be problems. There will be times of darkness, when our very security will be challenged. In these dark times the light emerging from the land, our sovereignty, our tenacious loyalty to Israel , our celebration of Yom Yerushalayim will bring us the light that will show us the way out of the darkness.
In a small way, Biz'er Anpin, we experienced this feeling this past week. As we celebrated our sixtieth birthday we were really at the center of the world. I thought to myself that India also was sixty recently.So was Pakistan..But "little" Israel took center stage. Despite the hard times and the difficulties-G-d remembers the Land. And that light embraces us and the darkness of
SEFIRA IS BANISHED.
We who made Aliyah, and "remembered " the land through our very action are truly great MECHUTANIM at this Simcha.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
