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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- 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.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
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.
