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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
One of the basic teachings of Avot is that of the necessity of respecting others - respecting their space, their property, their right to opinions that disagree with ours, and of their innate humanity. There are special levels of respect that are demanded of us regarding parents, teachers, Torah scholars, people of age and experience and of venerated leaders. A society that shows little respect for its elders and even worse for the "others" in society eventually brutalizes itself. Respect for humans who are created in the image of the Creator Himself is an innate Torah value. It leads to respect for the Almighty Himself for after all respect for the unseen and unknown and the ineffable is almost impossible if one is not previously trained in respect to those that we can actually see and interact with. Even a cursory perusal of Avot convinces us that this concept of respect is central to the Jewish concept of derech eretz. In fact the concept of derech eretz extends to one’s own person and body as well. The Torah that forbids the abuse of others also forbids self abuse. It is not coincidental at all that the commandment of honoring and respecting one’s parents appears in the Torah as the bridge between the commandments pertaining to our relationship with God and those commandments that deal with our required behavior towards fellow human beings. For without this concept of respect and honor we cannot effectively serve either God or humans.
Another facet of Avot is its emphasis on tradition. Each of the great men identified in Avot, the people who more than anything else guaranteed the survival of the Jews in Greco-Roman times, are recorded to have had a teacher, a transmitter of tradition. It is the importance of tradition and of a direct connection to that tradition through a human teacher of stature and importance that is the basis of all religious Jewish life. It is only this connection with human greatness that guarantees the vitality, let alone the survival, of Judaism and the people of Israel. Judaism is a religion of books but certainly not of books alone or even of books mainly. It is again no accident that the basis of Judaism is the Oral Law of Sinai. The written Bible has become the property of all of civilization and is not exclusively Jewish any longer. But the Oral Law of Sinai has remained exclusively the property of the Jewish people. It constitutes the main curriculum of study of all of the yeshivot and many of the courses of higher Jewish studies the world over. Without understanding the role of the tradition of Sinai as transmitted generation after generation by great human beings and awesome scholars, one never can really appreciate the majesty and worldview of Judaism. It is the teachings of Avot that allow us therefore to march forth confidently to the great moment of acceptance of the Torah as symbolized in the forthcoming holiday of Shavuot.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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