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Beit Midrash
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- Ein Ayah
Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai: that which the pasuk says: "Her mouth opened with wisdom, and the teachings of kindness were on her tongue" - corresponding to whom did Shlomo say this? He said this specifically corresponding to his father, David, who lived in five "worlds" and said shira (sang) to Hashem: He lived in his mother’s stomach and said shira ... He came out to this world and looked at the constellations and said shira ... He nursed from his mother’s breasts and looked at them and said shira ... He looked at the downfall of the wicked and said shira ... He looked at the day of death and said shira ...[For each idea a Biblical source is cited.]
Ein Ayah: There are two things that are needed for a person to reach shleimut (completeness): intellectual knowledge and emotion. The source of intellectual knowledge is empirical knowledge, acquired wisdom and experience, all of which have nothing in common with the feelings of the heart.
Emotion emanates from the power of imagination and the growth of the poetic side of the human spirit. When it senses the Divine loftiness, it can reach an ideal level of love of Hashem, may He be blessed.
Usually, these two wonderful powers interact in a not fully harmonious manner. When the intellect is preoccupied with gathering cold information to understand what and why everything is happening, the emotion is not aroused to yearn with the depth of pouring out the soul to the Holy and Elevated. Similarly, when the heart is excited with feelings of holiness, the power of rational intellectual judgment is not capable of functioning.
However, there are exceptional people who are able to reach shleimut in both of these powers. They can recognize the truth based on the intellect’s various elements and based on experience, and, specifically through this, they can develop the shleimut of feeling the grandeur of Hashem’s actions. This is the basis of the love of Hashem that comes from the wonderful recognition of His love and kindness.
It is in regard to this phenomenon that the pasuk of "Her mouth opened with wisdom" was said. The beginning [of the relationship with Hashem] always has to be with wisdom, with the ability to judge and with the rigor of arriving at true knowledge and the fruit of wisdom. The pasuk continues: "and the teachings of kindness were on her tongue," referring to the emotions of Divine pleasantness and the emotions of holiness.
By whom did we find the strength of the accumulation of knowledge and recognition that actually brought on lofty emotions? It was David, the pleasant psalmist of Israel. He did not settle for basing his psalms on superficial feelings regarding things that are apparent from the first look. Rather, he lived in "five worlds," contemplating with great wisdom about all of Hashem’s actions. He focused on the way He leads man, from the day of his birth up to and including the day of his death, until he becomes elevated to the goal of having an elevated human soul, which remains when the body dies. This type of emotion does not come from a simple natural emotional base, but can come about only after much work and deep knowledge. This is the connection between the study of kindness which is related to feeling and song, with the source of wisdom, to know and understand the calculations of the whole of Divine actions, which can serve as a basis of proper emotion.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
