INSIGHT 5781 - #15: DIVERSITY AND UNITY

 For  Vayechi

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INSIGHT 5781 - #14: THE PERSONAL AND THE PUBLIC

For  Vayigash

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INSIGHT 5781 - #13: RESPONDING TO REALITY

 For  Mikeitz

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INSIGHT 5781 - #12: THE MOTIVATION OF RELIGION

 For  Chanukah

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INSIGHT 5781 - #11: TIMNA AND ELIPHAZ

 For  Vayishlach

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INSIGHT 5781 - #10: THE DIALECTIC BEING OF YAAKOV

For  Vayeitzei

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INSIGHT 5781 - #09: Bechira

  For  Toldot

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INSIGHT 5781 - #08: THE NATURE OF A QUESTION

 

 For  Vayeira

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INSIGHT 5781 - #07: THE DYNAMIC OF GOD IN THE WORLD

 For  Lech Lecha

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INSIGHT 5781 - #06: VIOLENCE

For  Noach

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INSIGHT 5781 - #05: NA’A’MAH

For  Bereishit

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INSIGHT 5781 - #04: UNIVERSALISM TO NATIONALISM

For  Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah

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INSIGHT 5781 - #03: SUCCAT DOVID HA’NOFELET

For  Succot

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INSIGHT 5781 - #02: THE NECESSITY OF GOD IN LIFE

For  Ha'azinu, Yom Kippur

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Insight 5781-01: THE SEARCH FOR TESHUVA

For  Rosh Hashanah

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INSIGHT 5780 - #43: DEFINING ETHICS

For  Ki Tavo

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INSIGHT 5780 - #42: THE TORAH JUDGE

For  Shoftim

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INSIGHT 5780 - #41: AGGUDOT AGGUDOT

For  Re'eh

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INSIGHT 5780 - #40: GOMLEI CHASADIM

 For  Ekev

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INSIGHT 5780 - #39: THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF LOVE

For  V'Etchanan

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While Rambam and Chovot Halevavot reflect different opinions on the nature of love of God, this does not  mean that the advice they give in regard to this mitzvah is limited to only their perception of the nature of the mitzvah. As any mitzvah concerning love necessarily involves the parties to this relationship, a consideration of the self and the other would have a place in both approaches to love of God. As the focus of Chovot Halevavot is on the self, it would be understandable that he would focus on a person's need to clarify the self. This does not mean, though, that Rambam would also not see this as important. According to him, in developing love of God we would also need to clarigy self. And as the focus of Rambam is on the Other, it would be understandable that he would focus on a person's need to gain an understanding and perception of God to the best of human ability. The Chovot Halevavot also would not challenge the value of this undertaking although he may have a different understanding of what this activity may entail.

Rabbi Ben Hecht
 

Insight 5780-38: THE CHALLENGE OF DIVREI ELOKIM CHAYIM

For  Devarim

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INSIGHT 5780 - #37: REUVAIN AND GAD

For  Mattot

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INSIGHT 5780 - #36: PASSION

For  Pinchus

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INSIGHT 5780 - #35 - GIVE ME LIBERTY…

For  Balak

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INSIGHT 5780 - #34: THE PROBLEM OF DEMOCRACY

For  Korach

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The issue upon which we touched upon in this Insight is actually a most interesting one within Torah thought. While there is an obvious value in scholarship, the concept of democracy would seem to also have some value in that we are commanded, in regard to Torah law, to follow the majority. See Shemot 23:2. This, of course, refers to a majority of Torah scholars but nonetheless it applies even if the minority within the group may be greater Torah scholars. See Tosfot, Eruvin 6b in regard to Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. The democratic value of the individual does have its place within Torah but it must absolutely be balanced with the unique strength of an individual.

This issue obviously further touches upon the definition of the Torah scholar. If there is a specific group within which we are to apply some democratic standards, we must also define these standards and who, as such, has a voice within this group and who would not. In this regard, it is interesting to note that Korach's congregation consisted of scholars but in what occurred, it is clear that their viewpoint was fully dismissed as outside the pale. Democracy has a role within the group of legitimate Torah scholars but we still must properly define this group.

Rabbi Ben Hecht

INSIGHT 5780 - #33: UNDERSTANDING CHOICE

For  Shelach

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INSIGHT 5780 - #32: HA’ISHAH HA’CUSHIT

For  Beha’alotcha

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In the context of the Insight, please also see Ntziv, HaEmek Davar, Bamidbar 12:1.
RBH 

INSIGHT 5780 - #31: THE TORAH TEACHING FROM DISAGREEMENT

For  Naso
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #30: THE REALITY OF TORAH

For  Shavuot and Yitro
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #29: THE FULL UNITY OF A NATION

For  Bamidbar
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #28: TRUTH AND AGENDAS

For  Behar / Bechukotai
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #27: SEFIRA AND TORAH SHE’B’AL PEH

For  Emor and the Omer
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #26: MAASEI ERETZ MITZRAYIM

For  Acharei Mot / Kedoshim
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #25: ISOLATION

For  Tazria / Metzorah
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #24: BEYOND INDEPENDENCE DAY

For  Pesach
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #23: CHANGE

For  Tzav
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #22: CARING AND DEMANDING

For  Vayakhel, Pekudei
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #21: THE MASK OF EVIL

For  Purim
 
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The influence of this mask in the process of teshuva is a subject truly worthy of further investigation. The first step in this process is perceiving a certain behaviour and/or understanding as wrong but how can one do so if the very process by which to make this determination may have faults? The call to do teshuva would thus also further demand of us to continuously evaluate how we make such determinations. How to do this must obviously demand more study.

Rabbi Ben Hecht 

INSIGHT 5780 - #20: THE GESTALT COLLECTIVE

For  Terumah
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #19: RESPONSIBILITY TO THE OTHER

For  Mishpatim
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #18: THE THEOLOGY OF KABBALAT HATORAH

For  Yitro
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #17: THE NATURE OF TORAH

For  Beshalach
 
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We can perhaps assume that Moshe Rabbeinu enacted the schedule of Torah readings even though it did not solve the immediate problem of having gone three days without a form of Torah inspiration as He was thinking about a solution l'dorot, for the generations. In the moment, the call was, perhaps, for people to be aware of the problem and develop their own forms of gaining Torah inspiration.

Rabbi Ben Hecht

INSIGHT 5780 - #16: GENDER

For  Bo
 
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INSIGHT 5769 - #14: THE RELEVANCE OF YETZIAT MITRAYIM

For Va'era
 
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INSIGHT 5780 - #15: TRANSFORMATION

For  Shemot
 
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The idea that there is a time to question and a time not to question is also reflected in the story of the Akeida. While it is generally deemed praiseworthy that Avraham did not question God in regard to this command (as he questioned God in regard to Sdom), it is clear that Avraham's question about what occurred which he asked at the conclusion of the matter, is deemed praiseworthy. It is actually seen by some as a pivotal event in defining the Halachic system which demands investigation and questioning in order to determine, to the best of human ability, the true demand of God. The Akeida declared that in this focused encounter with God, the human being must fully limit himself/herself. This, however, is only in the beginning. As this relationship develops, it is God's Will that the human being exercises more self in the connection. This is what occurred in the conclusion of the Akeida. Such development must also occur in other aspects of the relationship with God. This is what the Insight is declaring in regard to the focused connection with God defined by Yetziat Mitzrayim. This idea is also connected to the very focus of na'aseh v'nishma.

INSIGHT 5780 - #14: UNITY AND TENSION

For  Vayechi
 
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The reference to Binyamin in the Insight should be further developed. It is important to recognize that the Beit HaMikdash [the Temple] was situated in the territory of the tribe of Binyamin. As such, within the context of our discussion, any reference to Binyamin necessarily must include a consideration of the concept of the Beit HaMikdash within the nation. It is thus important to note that the brothers' animosity towards Yosef did not extend to Binyamin; Binyamin was not in conflict with the brothers. In regard to the Kingdoms, however, the tribe of Binyamin did side with the tribe of Yehuda and, as such, was in conflict with the Northern Kingdom. This should not be surprising for one of the goals of Yeravam was to lessen the importance of the Beit HaMikdash within the nation. In a certain way, he was trying for a Jewish unity without the necessary significance of the Temple of Hashem. The connection of Binyamin to Yehuda clearly informs us of the necessity of the concepts tied to the Beit HaMikdash in any true definition of Jewish unity.
RBH 

INSIGHT 5780 - #13: VALUE IN THE VERY STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND

For  Vayigash
 
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A powerful example of what we mean when we speak of the need to understand the balancing of what we term the different dimensions in understanding any behaviour within this story is the complexity inherent in Yosef's declaration to his brothers about his identity. From the spiritual perspective, he feels a necessity to ensure that his prophetic dreams come to fruition. From an ethical perspective, he does not even wish the possibility of embarrassing his brothers in front of the Egyptians. From the personal perspective, he is being internally driven to re-connect and bring about the most positive of personal connections and emotions. The only way to understand the full depth of this event is through recognizing this complexity.
RBH