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Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- The Land of Israel
- The Torah Perspective
- Family and Society
- Jerusalem and The Holy Temple
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
R. Avraham ben-tziyon ben shabtai
The land of Israel is a land of holiness and Jerusalem is a city of even greater holiness. Our Rabbis teach us (Mishna Kelim): ‘There are ten levels of holiness: Israel of all lands... Jerusalem of all of Israel... The Holy of Holies possesses the highest level of holiness.’
What is Holiness?
Electricity is a power we all know exists, and we all know the effect it has, but all the same it cannot be seen. Similarly, holiness has a reality of its own. It may not be seen or felt but it affects objects, places and time.
In fact, the root of all existence is holiness.
Let’s take an example of the effect of the holiness. The Talmud discusses a case of a person who dedicated a certain animal as a specific offering in the Temple, but in the end brings it as a different offering 1 . He is punished, because when dedicating the animal he gave it a specific holiness that cannot be altered.
Beit Hamikdash (The Holy Temple) - Holy Place
The innermost room of the Beit Hamikdash is called The Holy of Holies; the Holy Ark was placed in this chamber. This Ark stood on a rock. Our sages tell us this is the rock from which the universe was created. This point is the border between the world and its creator - God. The starting point of all creation is the Holy of Holies.
The Holy Sabbath - Holy Time
Holiness is present not only in places, but also in time.
The Sabbath is the starting point and the root of all holy times - Jewish holidays. In fact, the whole week is impacted by the holiness of the Sabbath. Three days of preparation for the Sabbath and three days after in which the holiness decreases.
The Holy Nation - Holy People
Not only is holiness present in time and place, but in people too.
The holy nation of Israel. The whole universe exists in the merit of Israel 2 . Our tradition teaches that the nation of Israel has a soul. This soul predated all creations and is found alongside the Throne of God. This soul is the source of all souls and therefore the deeds of Israel influence all.
To summarize: Holiness is an existence, and preceded all existence. Beit Hamikdash is placed where all creation began. The Holy Sabbath is the root of the creation of Time. Finally, the Nation of Israel is the root of all mankind and creation.
The Holy Land
Rabbi Yehuda Halevi in his famous work 'HaKuzari' tells the king of Kuzar that the battle over the Holy Land started early on in history. The first to battle were Cain and Abel. Following them were Isaac and Ishmael and later Jacob and Esau. We learn here, that the Land’s holiness is not a product of Joshua conquest; its holiness exists independent of historical events.
The ETERNAL Holy City
Maimonedes writes that Jerusalem has a special level of holiness that never lapses. Therefore, even though the Beit Hamikdash lies in ruins entering the site of the Mikdash is forbidden, since we are not in a state of ritual purity.
The Holiness of the Holy Land
As mentioned previously there are ten levels of holiness. The greatest of them is The Holy of Holies. The areas around the Temple are affected by it; the closer they are - the holier they are. The next most holy area is the city of Jerusalem followed by the Land of Israel 3 .
^ 1 There are several offerings a person can bring, an offering of thanks, an offering of repentance etc.
^ 2 Our sages teach us that when God came to Israel with the Torah, He offered two choices: either they accept the Torah and keep the commandments or the world will be destroyed. We learn from this, the importance there is in Israel and in Israel's behavior. (t.n.)
^ 3The countries surrounding the Land of Israel also have a certain level of holiness (as is seen in several commandments).
The Torah Perspective The Importance of the State of Israel in the Writings of Rabbi A.I. Kook
part II
Holieness of the Land Strengthening Our Motivation for Aliya: Why (!) is Eretz Yisrael so Important?!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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