Author: Ben Zion
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Be`er Sheva – lecture 4
When you analyze the stories of Abraham and Isaac, you see that not only did they both call the city Be`er sheva, but they both went through exactly the same experiences. Everything that happened to Abraham happened to Isaac. This emphasizes the fact that there is one place their paths parted. After the Akedah, each…
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Be`er Sheva – lecture 3
Some interesting ideas in the context of Beersheba and the encounter with the nations: 1. It is implied from the Torah that if not for “Akedat Yitzchak”, Beersheba would have been the holiest place for the people of Israel! 2. In 1979, Egyptian President Sadat specifically requested to visit Beersheba, as the first place where…
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Derech Hayam – lecture 14
Tisha B`Av Chapter 4 of Lamentations (“איכה”) deals entirely with King Yoshiahu. What was Yoshiahu`s sin that, despite his righteousness, he was killed in the battle of Megiddo? The answer according to the Gemara fits in nicely with the theme of Derech HaYam: He did not consult the prophet. We will study the special lament…
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Be`er Sheva – lecture 2
After we proposed as an initial assumption that Be`er sheva symbolizes the turning to other nations, we will see how this characteristic of the city is expressed in the geographical map of the city in the topographical map – being in an area of water wells and also in the map of the tribes. And…
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Be`er Sheva – lecture 1
Introduction to Be`er Sheva and connection to Rosh Hashanah We will follow the special connection of the three patriarchs with Be`er Sheva. Ahat is so special about this city in the lives of the patriarchs? We will try to clarify the special connection of Be`er Sheva to Rosh Hashanah. Why – in the two-day Torah…
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Derech Hayam – lecture 13
To understand why it is important for the Bible to state that King Yoshiyahu was killed at Megiddo, we will explain the historical and geopolitical background of the period. We will read the first historical testimony of the Battle of Megiddo by Thutmose III, found in an ancient inscription that recounts the war in detail.…
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Derech Hayam – lecture 12
We will begin learning about the next stop on “Derech Hayam”: Megiddo. We will learn why Megiddo is so important in biblical times? We will learn about various events that occurred there and are told about in the Tanach, and as usual we will ask – what is the Tanach trying to teach us by…
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Derech Hayam – lecture 11
Two symbolic and irrelevant stories in “Afek” and both for the same purpose. The story of the beaten prophet and the story of the beaten arrows, both are related to the idea of ”Afek” – disobeying the word of God and his prophet. Both came to teach an important message about combining divine action and…
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