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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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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
