Shmuel 2 (Men’s) Perek 7 PAsuk 18 - Ways the Become a Melech

Rabbi Zev Cohen delivers a profound and emotionally charged shiur on Shmuel II 7:18, exploring the dual pathways to becoming a melech (king) in Jewish tradition: righteousness (tzaddik) and royal lineage (blue blood). Drawing from the story of King David, he challenges the notion that divine kingship is reserved only for those of pure ancestry, emphasizing that David—descended from Ruth the Moabite, a convert—was chosen not despite his lack of 'yichus' but precisely because of his humility and spiritual depth. Rabbi Cohen uses personal anecdotes—from airport encounters to a disrupted Kiddush on a college campus—to illustrate the core principle: every Jew, regardless of observance or background, is sacred and worthy of inclusion. He argues that the Torah’s concern for the metzora (leper) is not about ritual impurity alone, but about preserving the dignity and connection of every individual to the community. The shiur culminates in a powerful call to care for all Jews—not just the 'kosher' ones, but even those who are distant, broken, or even enemies—because the ultimate goal is not ritual purity, but the restoration of every soul to the Shevah Rakhos (joyous gathering) of Klal Yisrael.