The Unity of Am Yisrael

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1. The Unity of Israel

   Haftarot: Vayigash

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

   The prophet promises that Israel will remain one united and undivided nation. What will be the nature of this unity?

2. A Blessing on Both Your Houses: Rachel and Leah

   Dr. Yael Ziegler

   Elimelekh's abandonment of his personal and national house and Ruth and Naomi's homelessness come full circle with Ruth entering Boaz's house. In the book of Judges the national house is threatened with collapse. Ruth is likened to Rachel and Leah who together symbolize unity. Her union with Boaz will establish David's kingdom, which will unify the Nation.

3. Yehoshafat, King of Yehuda

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   The brief description of Yehoshafat in Kings I indicates  that his perios was one of enormous prosperity and extensive political hegemony over the region. In Divrei Hayamim, his reign is described in luxurious detail, spanning four extensive chapters. Yehoshafat is determined to actively pursue national unity with the Northern kingdom and the House of Ahav despite prophetic criticism. The results of this questionable policy included one failed military campaign and a broken fleet of ships. Yehoshafat began his monarchy with a passion for spreading Torah, and later , upon receiving the criticism of the prophet he decides to rehabilitate the legal system.

   As a king, Yehoshafat is superior even to Shlomo in his positive and responsive interactions with the prophet and in the fact that, despite his association with Ahav, he is insusceptible to idolatry.  In the landscape of Sefer Melakhim, Yehoshafat stands as one of the greatest and most impressive kings of Yehuda.

4. The Rise of King Hizkiyahu

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   King Hizkiyahu heralds an exciting period in the kingdom of Yehuda. He is devoted to God and responsive to His prophet. During his reign, Hizkiyahu leads Israel in a religious renaissance and seeks to heal the rift between the kingdom of Israel in the north and the kingdom of Yehuda in the south in the observation of a national Pessah. He repudiates idolatry and dishonors his father Ahaz at his burial to send a strong message to the nation. He dedicates and purifies the Beit Hamikdash and makes learning Torah a national priority.

5. Yoshiyahu and the Return to God

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Despite who is father and grandfather were, Yoshiyahu is unsurpassed as a champion of God worship, cleansing the kingdom of its idolatry and returning the nation to God. A process that begins in his youth, it further intensifies with the shocking discovery of the Sefer Torah. The precise identification of this Sefer Torah and its ramifications are debated amongst commentaries. However, the aftermath of this discovery is a purging of idolatry on an unprecedented scope including in the territories of the non-existent Northern kingdom that culminated in a mass celebration of Pessah in Jerusalem.  

6. Parshat Matot - The Inauguration

   Rabbi Yair Kahn

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ו | | 12 minutes

   Parshat Matot contains numerous, seemingly superfluous details surrounding the battle with Midian and the two and a half tribes who settled east of the Jordan. How do these details contribute to the theme of Israel becoming a cohesive whole prior to the nation's entry into the land?

7. The Future of the Kingdom of Israel

   Dr. Tova Ganzel

   The future unification of the exiles of Israel with the exiles of Yehuda is a rather surprising prophecy. Up until now, Yechezkel has not mentioned the exiles of Israel. This arose from the fact that as, as far as we know, the exiles of Israel, unlike the exiles of Yehuda, did not live in exile as a community with a separate, independent identity. The prevailing philosophy among them was the pagan world-view which assumed that as well as obeying the local administration, exiled groups would also show loyalty to the local deity. Therefore, this prophecy concerning the reunification of the kingdom of Israel with the kingdom of Yehuda is both a notable and significant development.

   Thus, it appears that the prophecy of the Dry Bones earlier in the chapter refers to the Kingdom of Israel. The 150 years that have passed since the exile of the Kingdom of Israel are not proof of their annihilation, and the nation receives a Divine promise of Divine revival.

   Our prophetic unit concludes with Yehezkel conveying the promise that the revival of the people, in all its various manifestations – Land of Israel, leadership, covenant, and the Beit HaMikdash - will be eternal.

8. The Importance of Fraternity: Parashat Mikeitz and the Story of Haman

   Rabbi David Silverberg

9. Wagons for Yaakov - Midrash and Meaning

   Rabbi David Silverberg

10. Binyamin Can See that it is I -What is This, and Why Didn't Yosef Contact his Family?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

11. Vayigash -Parsha and Haftara - Yehuda, Yosef, and the Challenges of Unity

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 14 minutes

    Yosef and the brothers meet, and Yehuda pleads on behalf of Biyamin. Rashi give a harsh reading of Yehuda’s words, saying that he is expressing his readiness to wage war on Yosef. The pshat -reading seems to suggest otherwise, but the idea of Yehuda facing off with Yosef plays out in later centuries- in the tensions between Kingdom of Yehuda and the House of Yosef. God warns that there will be a split, and during the time of Shlomo's son Rehavam, a descent of Yosef, Yerovam, arises as King of Israel. 

    Is unity always ideal? Why is there a Divinely mandated kingdom split? We relate these questions to the Haftara for Vayigash, about the tree branches symbolizing the reunification of Yehuda and Yosef.

     

12. Teruma, Shekalim, and Purim: Unity and the Half-Shekel

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 18 minutes

    Teruma and Shekalim deal with the instructions for the Mikdash (the Mishkan) –the apparent peak of avodat Hashem. Purim, which comes around this time, is the opposite of that spectrum: Jewish assimilation -only oming together because of a threat. Beginning with Parashat Shekalim, we explore the common denominator between these two extremes: appreciating what makes us similar. The half-hekel and the service of the Kohanim remind us that we are part of something greater. The half shekel needs something to complete it, and the purpose of the Kohanim is to represent Bnei Yisrael. At times, we need to be lowered from our high horses, and must remember that we are part of a greater whole.

13. Vayakhel - Unity in the Desert

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 17 minutes

    In this shiur, we consider the unity of the Nation of Israel as they traveled in the desert. The unique situation of the whole nation congregated in one place, together, is something that has never happened again in the history of Israel.  Special opportunities and challenges came up which were only possible for this singular circumstance.

14. The path to victory

    Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Reiss