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Beit Midrash
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The fragile and vulnerable mettle of the people of Israel that we first meet in B'shalach was such that the Lord felt it necessary to choose for them a meandering path in the desert rather than the logical route. The logical route was the direct and short caravan route, but its choosing would have resulted in the callow nation turning on its heels back to Egypt at its first encounter with the hostile Philistines.
Later, at the shores of Yam Suf we find a people panicked and nearly hysterical with fear crying out to Moshe that their backs are to the sea as the menacing Egyptian horde approaches. Moshe responds: "Stand still and witness the salvation of the Lord!" But the Almighty's plans deviate from what Moshe has in mind. "Why do you cry out to me?!" He asks Moshe. "Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward!" And the Midrash amplifies this idea. Nachshon son of Aminadav of the tribe of Judah plunged into the waters and the Yam Suf split open. (Mechilta)
The bravery, initiative and sacrifice demonstrated by Nachshon and those who followed him were but the first steps in developing the mentality of a free people ho could dedicate themselves to conquering Eretz Yisrael and living up to the responsibilities of the Lord's Torah within that land. Indeed the transformation of the slave-mentality to the independence of spirit necessary to fight a war of conquest could not possibly occur overnight. It would, in fact, take forty years of tough wilderness conditions
to harden them and teach them the requisite endurance and courage. (Rambam, Moreh Nevuchim)
In the modern period of Return from the galut a similar process has had to transpire.
Rav Meir Simcha of D'vinsk (known for his commentary Meshech Chochmah) is quoted as having said that after the Balfour Declaration and after the San Remo Convention "the fear of the Oaths has disappeared". Without elaborating here on the Oaths (Ketubot 111a), it is clear that his intention was to highlight that in the modern period a new spirit had taken hold within the Jewish people - a willingness to initiate,
to struggle physically for the Land, to fight for it, if necessary even to die for it, but,
hopefully to live, to work and to thrive in it. That spirit inheres in the type of Jew who constantly labors to achieve and to maintain the delicate but tensile balance between self-reliance and faith, between "taking the plunge" and trust in Hashem,
between acceptance of responsibility and awareness of our dependence on the Almighty.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
