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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
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.