Q. I was talking with a Yeshiva friend about the Holy Temple (Beit HaMikdash), and I began sensing that, despite my daily prayers, I'm not really sure how much I really want it. I guess what I mean is that I'm quite afraid of what life will be like when the Temple is rebuilt. Does it mean that we won't be able to go to the beach anymore? Will we just learn and bring sacrifices all day? What kind of life will we have? Thank you and sorry for the way I expressed myself.
by Berel Wein, RabbiWein.com
Rashi points out that the opening portion of this week’s Torah reading was transmitted by Moshe to the entire Jewish people in public, when they were all gathered. These laws of the Sabbath that represent one of the core pillars of Judaism – the observance of the Sabbath day as a day of rest and spirituality – were communicated to everyone in a public venue. No one was obligated to hear it secondhand, and take the word of anyone else, regarding the proper method of observance of the Sabbath day.
Everyone heard the instructions simultaneously and clearly, publicly, and definitively. The observance of the Sabbath day has, to a great extent, been counted by other cultures as faith at its essence and remains a uniquely Jewish idea and code of behavior. The idea of a day of rest from the toil of the week has certainly been adapted by most of human civilization. However, the methodology of defining and implementing such an abstract idea as a day of rest into reality remains wholly within the purview of Jewish tradition and Torah observance.
by Rav Eliyahu Maman (adapted from Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook's classes, in honor of the 40th anniversary of Rav Tzvi Yehuda's death this week), yeshiva.co, translated and adapted by Hillel Fendel
The Sin of the Golden Calf is certainly the most blatant and central story in this week's Torah portion of Ki Tisa. And when exactly did this terrible act take place? Right in the middle of the process of the Giving of the Torah! What joy there was when the Torah was given, not only for Israel, but for the entire world! Yet it was catastrophically marred by a terrible confusion, misunderstanding of reality, and entrapment by the Evil Inclination.
Rabbi Yehuda Halevy, in his famous work The Kuzari (1,97), taught that this terrible sin was not actually real idol-worship. Other great early scholars also took this approach, including the Rashbam, Ramban, HaChinukh, Or HaChaim, and others. Much later, the Shem MiShmuel, who died a century ago, wrote: "On the innermost levels, Israel did not sin… only externally." That is, it looks like idol-worship, but there is a very slight difference.
by Rav Zalman Baruch Melamed, translated by Hillel Fendel
The relations between Israel and the gentiles are complex and complicated. This has been the case ever since the Jewish Nation ascended the stage of history, and up until today, throughout the generations. The nations relate to Israel in a very "interesting" manner. On the one hand, they admire us, but on the other, they are very mocking and scornful of us. They have compassion on us, but they also hate us.
by Rav Dov Lior, yeshiva.co, translated by Hillel Fendel
This week's weekly Torah portion of Tetzave tells us of the choice of the Kohanim – the Priests – and how they are to be prepared for their service in the about-to-be-built Tabernacle (Mishkan). Most of the attention in Tetzave is centered around the special garments they are to wear during the service.
Q. Why is it that when Jewish outposts are forcibly evacuated and dismantled, we barely see any rabbis there? These incidents involve many wonderful teenagers who need direction. Sometimes, out of their strong love for the Land, they commit sins such as throwing rocks on the evacuating soldiers, without a rabbi to guide them as to what is permitted and what is forbidden. I am sorry if my formulation seems like rebuke; I have no intention of rebuking rabbis.
by Rav Moshe Tzuriel, translated by Hillel Fendel
This week's Torah portion of Terumah recounts the commands to build the Tabernacle (Mishkan) in which G-d was to "dwell" during Israel's 40-year sojourn in the desert. Verse 15 in Chapter 25 says something intriguing: Moshe is told, "You shall make the boards for the Miskhan from upright acacia wood, each one ten cubits long…"
Why does the Torah refer to "the boards," as if we know which boards it is talking about? No boards have yet been mentioned! Furthermore, regarding none of the other utensils in the Mishkan is "the" mentioned; instead it says, "You shall make a menorah… a covering for the tent," etc. Why then are the boards singled out?
Q. During the early months of the Oslo Agreements, I voted for a party that participated in carrying out these agreements with the Palestinian Authority. After I came to realize that the Oslo approach was entirely wrong, I was told that I must do official teshuva (repentance). Is this correct? If so, how does one do teshuva for this?
