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Beit Midrash
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The navi speaks words of consolation: "Go and call out in the ears of Yerushalayim: ‘So says Hashem: I have recalled the kindness of your youth, the love of your time of marriage, when you went out to the desert, to a land not sewn’ " (Yirmiya 2:2). One can ask: did Yerushalayim go to the desert? The simple explanation is that the pasuk refers to Yerushalayim’s residents, whose forebears went out to the desert. Parenthetically, there are parallel p’sukim (31: 1-2) that talk about the early commitment of the nation and the love Hashem maintains for it. As a result, the navi promises liberation for the kingdom of Shomron and a return to Yerushalayim (ibid.:5).
Another explanation of Yerushalayim in the desert is brought in Kol Hator in the Gra’s name. The pasuk does refer to Bnei Yisrael’s following Hashem into the desert and Hashem’s remembering of them even as the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash grew near. However, Yerushalayim in the pasuk is the heavenly one (shel ma’ala). It is our job at this busy time in the Jewish calendar to turn everything into Yerushalayim shel ma’ala. The Gra informed us that "Yerushalayim shel ma’ala," "Knesset Yisrael," and "sefirat ha’omer" all have the same gematria (1071). We can elevate everything at matan Torah after the 49 days of sefirat ha’omer. Based on these connections it turns out that Yerushalayim shel ma’ala accompanied Bnei Yisrael in the times of their wandering already in the desert even though the earthly Yerushalayim was acquired only at the time of David.
David coined the phrase, "the rebuilt Yerushalayim, like a city that was connected together" (Tehillim 122:3). According to the Gra, this connection is between the heavenly and earthly elements of the city. As Midrash Tehillim says, Hashem said that He would not enter the upper Yerushalayim until He enters the lower one. The lower one took time, as Yehoshua conquered only part of it and it took time for David to determine that this was the "place that Hashem will choose from all of your tribes to place His Name there" (Devarim 12:5). It was David who dedicated his life to finding the permanent resting place for the Divine Presence (see the beautiful description in Tehillim 132) and united Yerushalayim shel ma’ala and Yerushalayim shel mata.
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.
