Year Sponsor
Dora Pollack
לע"נ בעלה אליקים געציל ז"ל בן ישראל הי"ד
All articles about the Midrash
A Land Flowing of Chalav [Midrash-1]
Question
The Land of Israel is described as a “Land flowing with ‘chalav’ and honey”.
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
1) the Nation of Israel 2) the Land of Israel 3) the Beit Hamikdash 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
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
What does it mean that God “measured” and for what purpose?
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
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
Why was Yosef privileged to be buried in the Land of Israel and Moshe was not?
Answer
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.
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