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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Purim & The Month of Adar
- The Month of Adar
But there are heartening exceptions to this sad picture. The American tennis star Andy Roddick withdrew from the Dubai tennis tournament in protest for the ban of Shahar Peer the Israeli tennis player. There are parliamentary conferences in Europe as to how to combat anti-Semitism. The Pope of Rome has condemned anti-Semitism publicly and forcibly, something his predecessors seventy years ago did not find it necessary to do. Slowly the Israeli government is awakening to the necessity of combating all of this hatred with its own means - better use of the media, the internet and continued attempts to improve and expand its public relations image. The miracle of Purim repeats itself in every generation. The Hagada of Pesach teaches us that in every generation there are those who wish to destroy us, physically and spiritually. Iran is no mirage. Yet we are taught by the rabbis that we are not to rely solely on miracles. Heaven always helps those who help themselves. And therefore even the miracle of Purim could not have occurred if it were not for the actions and interventions of Mordecai and Esther. Passivity in the face of enmity so openly expressed hardly qualifies for miracle making. Anti-Semitism is one of the tools of the Lord, so to speak, to remind the Jewish people of its special role and mission in the world. The Lord will never allow us to escape our mission and destiny. We will never be a nation that is just like everyone else. But we have to stand up for ourselves and be positive and proactive in fulfilling our destiny and be vociferous in announcing that to a hostile world.
There is another side to Adar and anti-Semitism that needs to be mentioned. The Talmud teaches us that being against the Jews is the shortcut to political success. But in the long run it brings only ruin to those who practice it as a way of life. All of the mighty countries and great empires who practiced it were swept away themselves while the Jewish people survived and rebuilt itself. In our times, this was and is the story of Germany and the Soviet Union. It is true that Germany destroyed six million Jews. But at the end of the day in terms of cost of territory, human life and untold suffering and defeat, World War II was an unmitigated disaster for Germany. It suffered for decades of partition and it has not been spared continued difficulties. What the eventual price it will yet pay for its anti-Jewish cruelties is yet to come and be reckoned. The anti-Jewish attitudes and policies of the Soviet Union eventually brought it to its unexpected demise. The Jewish people is not to be easily trifled with. Ask Haman. So Adar reminds us of ancient truths and current situations. The rabbis said that there is no joy as great as realizing the realities of a situation. Maybe that is why Adar is the month of joy. It is simply the month of reality and wise and strong behavior in light of that reality. It therefore becomes the month of miracles as well.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
