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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
"For from the peak of rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: it is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. ... Let me die the death of the righteous and let my end be like his."
Bilaam serves as the paradigm of the non-Jew who sees the Jewish people in their ideal state and yearns to be like them. Later he utters his famous praise "How goodly are your tents, Yaacov; your dwellings Yisrael." From Bilaam's perspective, the Jewish people have erected a perfect society which - at least in that moment - he yearns to join.
The Baal HaTurim points out on the words "am levadad yishkon" - a people that shall dwell alone - that there are seven "crowns" on the letter shin in the word yishkon symbolizing the seven nations in whose land Yisrael will dwell; and that the word "levadad" is the numerical equivalent of forty to teach that Yisrael will dwell in the Land of Israel which is a forty day journey by foot.
What is the Baal HaTurim's point? After all, Bilaam saw the Jewish people in the desert, not in their land. What is meant by these two symbols.
I believe that the seven crowns and symbolizing the seven nations symbolize paganism which must be destroyed. The "forty days journey" refers to the Torah given to Moshe after forty days on Har Sinai.
Only in our own land can we rid ourselves of dangerous foreign influences and fully commit ourselves to Torah.
The Baal HaTurim is teaching us about our ability to broadcast the message of Torah to the world. Many people think that we can best be a light unto the nations by living among them. This is a mistake. The goal of the Torah is the creation not merely of perfect people but of a perfect society. This is only possible when we have our own land.
Every religion and society has its holy men and places of worship. Our special task is to create an entire society; a government, an army, an economy, etc. that is
devoted to Torah values. Only then will the nations look to us as an example and yearn to emulate our society.
"On that day Hashem will be one and His name will be one."
Army and War "If Haredim Should Serve in the IDF, So Should You"
IDF Service for Young Jewish Men from America
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.
