YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Va'etchanan
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
Commentaries (see Rakanati) were puzzled by the connection between Moshe’s denial of entry to the Land and the matter of images. Also, how did Moshe blame Bnei Yisrael for his inability to enter the Land, when the Torah points to his sin? Targum Yonatan says that through Bnei Yisrael’s difficult behavior at mei meriva, which prompted Moshe to hit the rock, Moshe had been kept out of the Land. However, that does not fully answer our questions. The Pesikta says that Moshe was not kept out because of any sin but because of the people, but it does not explain how.
We will suggest an explanation of the people’s part in keeping Moshe out based on the p’sukim’s perplexing context. As indicated, Hashem had, through His actions and His commands, tried to tame the desire for physical images in the service of Hashem. Yet, Bnei Yisrael had failed bitterly in this regard from the beginning. Forty days after the giving of the Torah at Sinai, the nation sinned with the Golden Calf. How did that happen? "The nation saw that Moshe was delayed in returning from the mountain and the nation assembled on Aharon and said: ‘Arise, make for us a god who will walk before us, for this man, Moshe, who took us out of the Land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him’" (Shemot 32:1).
Although they referred to Moshe as a man, they felt a need to create a physical god to deal with his absence. These words are that which prevented Moshe from entering the Land and completing his historic mission. Had Moshe brought Bnei Yisrael into the Land, they were liable to view him with Divine qualities that would have turned him into the center of a worship of a man. Therefore, specifically in the midst of the Torah section that discusses the prohibition of possessing images, Moshe said that their demonstrated tendency toward such mistakes kept him out of Eretz Yisrael.
Also nowadays, we must remember that, with all due respect to talmidei chachamim, one should not attribute to them Divine characteristics.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
