Eretz Yisrael good influence against anger [Navi 1]

Question

Sefer Yehoshua Chapter 1

In Sefer Yehoshua Chapter 1, Hashem instructs Yehoshua to bring Am Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael right away.

What was the urgency to enter the Land after the death of Moshe?

Answer

Like Moshe, the Land of Israel, makes one realize that God manages the world and one should not be angry when situations don’t go according to our expectations.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Yaakov Tessler

Rectifying the sin of the Meraglim [Navi 2]

Question

Sefer Yehoshua Chapter 2

In chapter two of Sefer Yehoshua, Yehoshua sends two spies to the Land and Yericho.

1. Are sending spies a positive or negative action?

2. Why would Yehoshua send spies when the first time brought calamity?

Answer

A spying mission is positive or negative depending upon the goals of that mission. Yehoshua’s mission was positive since the agents facilitated Israel’s conquest of the Land.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Yaakov Tessler

Unity of Am Yisrael: Pre-Condition for Receiving Eretz Yisrael [Navi 3]

Question

Sefer Yehoshua Perek 3

Before entering the Land of Israel, the Jewish people miraculously stood between the poles of the Ark, when Yehoshua spoke to the nation.

What was the message of this miracle to the nation before entering the Land?

Answer

Am Yisrael received the Torah when they achieved unity at Har Sinai. Additionally, the miracle preceding Am Yisrael’s entry expresses that the nation’s success in the Land depends upon unity. That is when G-d rests with Am Yisrael.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Yaakov Tessler

Purpose Setting up Stones Taken from Jordan River [Navi 4]

Question

Sefer Yehoshua Perek 4

What was the purpose of the miracles when Am Yisrael crossed the Jordan River into the Land of Israel?

Answer

The purpose of the miracles while entering the Land were to help Am Yisrael maintain a level of sanctity. This sanctity wil be present whenever they will engage in mundane activities in the Land while being aware of G-d’s presence.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Yaakov Tessler

Inheriting the Land by Connecting to Forefathers’ Deeds [Navi-5]

Question

Sefer Yehoshua Perek 5

In Chapter 5 of Sefer Yehoshua, God commanded the Israelite men to be circumcised a “second” time.

Why was the mitzvah of circumcision specifically to be performed by Israel upon entering the Land?

Answer

As the generation of the exodus was required to perform mila and to offer the Paschal lamb as a reminder of the deeds of the Forefathers and to connect to their merit in order to be worthy of redemption from Egypt, so too the generation which entered the Land was required to do mila and offer the Paschal lamb to connect to the merit of the Forefathers in order to inherit and settle the Land.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Yaakov Tessler

Purpose of open miracles in the Conquest of Yericho [Navi-6]

Question

Why was it necessary for Yericho to be captured with open miracles?

Answer

1. For Am Yisrael to realize that their success comes from God’s fighting on their behalf.
2. To instill fear of God and of His nation among the nations.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Tsvi Levy

Redemption: First Return to Eretz Yisrael, then Teshuva [Navi-7]

Question

In the process of redemption, what comes first: ingathering of the exiles or purification?

Answer

Stage1- Ingathering of exiles constitutes sanctification of G-d’s name since it will stop the nations’ claim of G-d’s inability for Am Yisrael to remain in its Land.

Stage2- God will bring His people to the Land where the holy atmosphere of Eretz Yisrael has the power to purify Am Yisrael.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Shilo Hagar

Redemption: Zion by justice, Those that do teshuva by righteousness [Navi-8]

Question

According to this posuk, how will the Nation of Israel repent and be worthy of redemption?

Answer

Zion (Jerusalem) deserves redemption even by mishpat, since it has been severely punished. Her repentant ones, Am Yisrael, will be redeemed through tẓedaka, through G-d’s grace, by doing teshuva.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Tsvi Levy

God Does Not Abandon Zion or Am Yisrael [Navi-9]

Question

The posuk says: “Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.” What is the difference in the meaning of forsaken and forgotten?

Answer

Zion feels that G-d has not only forsaken her but has forgotten her as if totally disconnected from her. G-d’s response: just like a mother cannot forget her child, G-d does not forget His Nation.

Presenter: Avrum Leeder

Writer: Ori Engelman