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Friday, January 10, 2020

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 

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