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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Tu Bishvat
But with the Etrog this isn't so, since the Etrog grows on all water, and therefore there is an opinion that it belongs to the year it is picked, like a vegetable. But at the moment we won't go into all the opinions and ramifications regarding the Etrog.
With regard to Maasrot, HaRav Eliyahu Gerditz and also HaRav Kook explain according to the Rambam, that the ripening which is mentioned is the time of the Maasrot, meaning the elementary growth of the fruit. The fruit's further growth is only in size, in volume, but its critical structural development was in this year. If the fruit is ripe enough to at least be edible, even though its size is minimal, then the fruit has reached its time of Maasrot, but if it is still unripe and inedible, for example, if the fruit is sour, this is still a deficiency. The fruit has to develop a minimum basis in size, but if it is totally unripe, then it is not something to be taken into account regarding Maasrot, as it has not yet ripened.
Trees, "Renew"
The determining date for trees is Tu B'Shevat, at that time there is a renewal. G-d created the world with an element of cycling; one cycle ends, and another, new cycle begins, and the same is true regarding Tishrei. Obviously, on a deeper level, inside of every renewal is a new vitality, new manifestations in creation. Just as we say that on Rosh Hashanah the man renews, and for him the significance is that he needs to adopt a better outlook on reality, similarly the renewal of the entire universe, the vegetation, and the fruit of the trees has its significance for them. This is the determining date for the New Year. The Torah established everything according to natural events: the new day begins with the emergence of the stars; we see that in nature a different day is beginning. The new month begins with the new moon; toward the end of the month the moon becomes veiled. And the New Year: the summer has ended, the hot days have passed, the days are getting shorter, and we see a change in nature. From then onwards we see something new.
All the laws of the Torah, Terumot and Maasrot of the different years of Maasrot - everything is determined according to the climate of the Land of Israel. The same is with the appearance of the new moon, and also the horizon is gauged (according to certain opinions) according to that of Jerusalem.
In the summer, in the "blessing of the years" we say, "And give a blessing on the face of the earth" (as opposed to asking for rain, which we do in the winter). Even if an entire country needs rain specifically during the summer, like France or Spain, the Shulchan Aruch rules that even in this case the Jews residing there shouldn't request rain in the "blessing of the years" but as a private petition - even for an entire country - in the blessing "You...who hears prayer" (where one is permitted to add private prayers). The reason for this is that our Sages formulated the eighteen blessings of the Amidah according to the needs of the Land of Israel, and since the Land of Israel needs rain in the winter and not in the summer, the universal prayer goes according to this, even if all of Europe needs rain in the summer.
The nations of the world, on the other hand, established their timetable arbitrarily. According to them, the new day begins at 12:00 at night. Why? Because by then they have finished the night's partying and can take the time to say Tikkun Hatzot...they don't take the moon into account at all, and they created the months arbitrarily.
The ancient Romans had the wisdom to begin their new year in March, because then all can see that the winter has passed and there is a change in nature. Afterwards came idolaters who believed that the "holy spirit" entered a certain individual in April and left him in the end of December. According to their "logic," nine are the months of the "holy spirit!" And because of that, they arbitrarily set their New Year in the dead of winter.
By the nations of the world, the year is set up arbitrarily, and by us, according to nature. There is a renewal for the trees beginning from Tu B'Shevat, as our Sages say, most of the year's rains have fallen and the trees have absorbed the precipitation and now they are exuding resin, with new vitality.
The idea which accompanies Tu B'Shevat is to see the renewal. He who thinks that everything is static doesn't get excited about anything. The rejuvenation in nature gives the man motivation for his own renewal, with a new way of thinking, and this awakens the man from his slumber. That is the way it is in nature, and that is the way it is regarding Rosh Hashanah in Tishrei, which is the Day of Judgment, and men must mend their ways, start a new page, renew. The general guidance is that a man is to be defined as "walking," not to stand in one place and not to stop at the level he has attained, but to continually advance. If there is advancement, the man ascends, but if he stays in the same place, he retreats backwards.
The "S'fat Emet" mentions over and over the subject of new vitality that a man receives on Rosh Hashanah for the entire year, and the trees undergo a similar process on Tu B'Shevat. In the Diaspora, Jews ate carob from the Land of Israel, because they didn't have anything else...
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts