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All articles about the Midrash
A Land Flowing of Chalav [Midrash-1]
Question
Mechilta d’Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai 13:5
The Land of Israel is described as a “Land flowing with ‘chalav’ and honey”.
What is the meaning of ‘chalav’? Is ‘chalav’ a praise of the produce of the land or of the animals of the land?
Answer
Commentaries on the Midrash and Tanach explain the praise is on the produce (grapes). The east side of the Jordan is praised for producingf animal “milk” while the west side is praised for wine (grapes).
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
Four Are Called “Acquisition” (Kinyan) [Midrash-2]
Question
Mechilta Beshalacḥ 9
The Midrash says that G-d acquired: 1. the Nation of Israel 2. the Land of Israel 3. the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) 4. the Torah
Why specify these four, when G-d’s glory fills the world and He is the “Owner” of everything?
Answer
Everything is God’s, but these four are ones that clearly reveal His presence in the world.
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
Mine to Mine [Midrash-3]
Question
Midrash Bamidbar Rabba 232:10-11
Why did the king decide to marry his slaves to his maidservants, than purchase more slaves and maidservants?
Answer
God desires His nation, to live in His Land because as a national power in the Land of Israel (and not dispersion throughout the world) we can fulfill God’s wishes to completion.
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
God Stood and Measured the Earth [Midrash-4]
Question
Midrash Vayikra Rabba, Perek 13
The Midrash quotes Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai teaching that God measured all the lands and only found the Land of Israel suitable for the Jewish Nation.
How are we to understand the Midrash?
Answer
‘Measured’ means suited. God sought the land most suited to Am Yisrael for the Nation to reveal and actualize the powers within it.
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
Tevel–The Land is Spiced with Everything [Midrash-5]
Question
Midrash Sifrei Eikev 37
In Chapter 8 of Mishlei (Proverbs) the simple meaning of the posuk is that there will be an abundance of food in the Land of Israel.
Why does the Midrash ignore the simple meaning that there will be an abundance of food and rather teach that Land of Israel produces all types of food?
Answer
Eretz Yisrael is the central place where all life forces converge. Whatever exists in the world must exist in some measure within Eretz Yisrael, since all creation stems from and is nurtured by the Land.
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
Four Are Called Nachala [Midrash-6]
Question
1. The Nation of Israel 2. The Land of Israel 3. The Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) 4. The Torah.
How is nachala different from kinyan?
Answer
While kinyan is an expression of one’s place in the world, nacḥala expresses the essence of one’s acquisitions within this world. God reveals Himself in the world through the four. The ultimate revelation is when the four unite.
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
Mourning and Rejoicing with Jerusalem [Midrash-7]
Question
Why is it that whoever does not mourn Jerusalem does not see her joy?
Answer
1. Chatam Sofer explains that one cannot be consoled for a person who is alive. Similarly, since the heavenly Jerusalem and the Beit HaMikdash exist, and the loss is only on earth, therefore we continue to mourn.
2. Rabbi Levi Yitzḥak of Berditchev explains that one for whom Jerusalem is genuinely lacking, who sincerely anticipates her being rebuilt, is able to perceive the subtle signs of light within the darkness that indicate the arrival of redemption.
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
Why Moshe was not privileged to be buried in Eretz Yisrael [Midrash-8]
Question
The midrash mentions that Yosef merited to be buried in the Land of Israel and Moshe Rabeinu did not merit.
Why was Yosef privileged to be buried in the Land of Israel and Moshe was not?
Answer
In every circumstance that Yosef was in, he was known as a “Hebrew” from the Land of Israel. When Yosef was accused by the wife of the Egyptian lord of wrong-doing, she said: “Look, he has brought a Hebrew man to us …”.Yosef later said: “I was kidnapped from the Land of the Hebrews …”
In contrast, Moshe was perceived as an Egyptian by the daughters of Yitro as the Torah states: The daughters of Yitro said to their father: “An Egyptian man rescued us from the shepherds …”
The connection between every Jew and Eretz Yisrael is so deep and so basic that even one who was not born in the Land is indeed a (spiritual) native of Eretz Yisrael.
The Chassidic Admor of Ostrovtza (Rabbi Yeḥezkel Holstock hy”d) said of himself:
“I am from Eretz Yisrael, though as the result of our sins we were exiled from her and I find myself in Ostrovtza. Whenever a Jew is asked where he is from, he must answer “I am from Eretz Yisrael, though I am temporarily dwelling in the diaspora.”
Presenter: Avrum Leeder
Why Binyamin Merited the Shechina Dwelling in his portion [Midrash-9]
Question
1. Binyamin was not involved in the sale of Yosef
2. Binyamin was born in the Land of Israel. What is the significance of the two reasons mentioned?
Answer
The Midrash alludes to mitzvot between man and God and mitzvot between man and fellow-man. Binyamin stood out in both areas; he was not at all involved in sinat chinam and the Maharal explains that God delayed the birth of Binyamin because he possessed a unique soul worthy of being born in Eretz Yisrael.
Presenter: Avrum Leeder