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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ha'azinu
What is the message that lies in this call of Moshe to heaven and earth? The Torah after all does not engage in needless hyperbole. I sense that the Torah comes to point out to us the unnatural state of existence of the Jewish people throughout the centuries.
Just as there is a visible order and food chain in nature so too does there appear to be such an order in human history and its processes of civilization. Even the strongest and largest empires and superpowers eventually weaken and disappear from the stage of human events.
There is apparently a food chain that applies to nations and ideologies as well. The heavens and their galaxies, stars, planets and suns operate with an unchanging exactitude that influences human lives here on our small planet.
The earth revolves on its axis in an exactitude that preserves it from the fire of the sun and the frost of space. The opinion of Rambam is that the laws of nature are eternal and immutable.
The so-called miracles that occur within nature are built into nature itself and are not to be seen as violations of the laws of nature themselves. The heavens and earth are governed by laws that never change and this type of inexorable law also applies to human history and events.
To all of this idea that there is nothing exceptional in nature and in human events there is one great exception - that of the story of the Jewish people over all of its millennia of existence.
The continuing wonder of Jewish existence and resilience in the face of impossible conditions and brutal enemies, of internal weaknesses and divisions, and external foes who proclaim their intent to destroy the Jewish people and state, is the greatest proof of the eternal existence of the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman in his debate with the Church and Jewish apostates in 1263 Barcelona stated that the greatest proof of the uniqueness of the Jewish people is its survival against all odds. How much more would he insist on the correctness of this argument today, almost eight centuries later.
It is the very regularity of heaven and earth and all of nature that they govern that serves as the counterpoint for the inexplicable and unnatural existence and creativity in world history and affairs.
The Jews are the exceptional unique people in the world and their exceptional existence is based completely upon God’s covenant with them. Thus the heavens and the earth are the correct and natural witnesses to the supernatural existence and triumph of Israel over the long centuries. Moshe’s witnesses and covenant remain firm until today.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
