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The Rambam writes: "This tevilla done to utensils of meals that are obtained from a non-Jew and afterward they become permitted for eating and drinking is not related to purity and impurity but is from the Rabbis, and it is hinted in, ‘Whatever goes into fire...’" (Maachalot Assurot 17:5). A few halachot later, he writes: "There are other things that the Sages forbade, even though there is no source in the Torah, in order to distance oneself from non-Jews before one mixes in with them and come to intermarriage, and these are them: not to drink with them even when one does not have to fear wine used in idol worship, and they forbade eating their bread and their cooked foods even when one does not have to fear that they come from pots that have absorbed non-kosher" (ibid.:9).
According to the Rambam, the requirement of tevillat keilim is also to battle assimilation. Most Rishonim see tevillat keilim as a mitzva from the Torah but one that teaches the concept of not allowing relationships between Jews and non-Jews to deepen. By restricting eating and drinking with non-Jews and even with related utensils, the danger of the setting of joint eating is lessened. This served as a model for a slew of rabbinic initiatives that are intended to curb assimilation. We will mention a few.
1) Eiruv chatzerot - Even within fenced-in areas, we must "rent non-Jews’ domain" before being able to carry there. This process was intended to make joint living quarters with them more difficult. 2) One may not eat bread that was baked in a non-Jew’s home irrespective of kashrut issues. 3) One may not eat important foods cooked by a non-Jew. 4) One may not drink wine along with non-Jews irrespective of kashrut problems. 5) The Rabbis tried (unsuccessfully) to forbid use of non-Jews’ oil.
This partial list demonstrates the Rabbis’ great fears of intermarriage/assimilation, which endanger the Jewish nation’s survival. Nowadays assimilation is eating into huge parts of our people, reaching 90% in some places. Our survival after millennia of exile is a historically unprecedented open miracle. Our parasha teaches us that while we have to thank Hashem for the miracle, we also have to take our own concrete steps, with our Rabbis’ laws’ help, to stem the tide of assimilation.
Army and War "If Haredim Should Serve in the IDF, So Should You"
IDF Service for Young Jewish Men from America
Army and War "If Haredim Should Serve in the IDF, So Should You"
IDF Service for Young Jewish Men from America
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.
