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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Pinchas
I once saw an insight offered by Horav Moshe Swift, zt"l, that the blessing of continuity - uninterrupted service of God - is a product neither of service in the Mikdash nor study in the Bet Midrash. While these do contribute to future development, they do not actually forge the links in the chain of continuity.
Pinchas was aware of Bil'am’s subterfuge. Bil'am understood that in order to destroy the Jew, he must focus on the home. A home that is spiritually destroyed has a lasting effect on those who live there. A home that is religiously burned is one in which children are raised ignorant of their noble heritage. This is a home that will not produce everlasting Jewish offspring.
Pinchas recognized that the immorality promoted by Bil'am was unique and that its punishment would not be meted out in a court of law. This sin, this type of immorality, is so foreign to Jewish family life that its punishment could only be carried out by a zealot - not someone who is an extremist but rather one who is totally devoted to God, one who realizes that this incursion into the fiber of Jewish family life is a sin not against man or the community, but rather against God. Pinchas was ‘jealous’ for God's sake. Pinchas fought for family purity, for the morality and integrity of Jewish family life that would lead to generations of committed Jews, and it is for this reason that God bestowed upon him the covenant of eternal priesthood.
During the past four years, together with a dedicated staff, I have been privileged to work with families who made aliya because of their commitment to the mitzvah of yishuv ha’aretz and their desire to raise their children in the holy land of Israel.. I truly believe that these families, and those who will join them in the months and years to come as olim chadashim, represent a growing link in the chain of continuity of a mamlechet kohanim v’goy kadosh. May we all be privileged to see our families serve as exemplary role models of the morality and integrity of Jewish family life.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
