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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
[In the Beit Hamikdash they would make a beracha, read the Ten Commandments, Shema, "V’haya im shamoa," "Vayomer" (the commandment of tzitzit), ...] Even outside the Beit Hamikdash, they tried to institute the daily recitation of the Ten Commandments, but this practice was already cancelled because of the arguments of the heretics.
Ein Ayah: The heretics are mistaken when they say that the main goal is the spirit of the Torah, in other words, its true ideas and the good moral attributes that it promotes. Based on this, they distinguish between that which they consider central philosophical themes and other stories and mitzvot. However, they are very mistaken for thinking that the philosophical ideas are already the final goal. In truth, the goal of human shleimut (completeness) is truly achieved when one can live and act, both on a general and on a specific basis, based on these philosophies and the good attributes seen through the Torah. To accomplish this, one needs all of the matters of the Torah, which make the entire nation used to a proper approach to life.
When even a small part of the Torah is not followed in practice, the philosophies will remain as an independent thing, and life will run as according to a person’s desires and whims. Under such circumstances, even the more general ideas of the Torah will, Heaven forbid, be undone. They will not succeed in having part of the Torah, as Hashem, whose word stands forever, instructed how success must be reached.
It is heretics who rail against the practical mitzvot, which incorrectly seem to them as a burden and unnecessary because they see the philosophical side as the main thing. However, this is a mistake because the actions all direct a person generally and specifically toward a path of life. When one’s specific actions are not delineated based on the Hashem’s Torah, the ideas cannot play their role at all. As time goes on, opposition to the proper ideals will increase, based on the habit of actions that the individual chooses. These random actions are antithetical to the pure ideals, and thus the philosophical idealism will be forgotten over time and nothing of them will last. Only about those who follow the Torah does it say "And this is My covenant with them, said Hashem: My spirit that is upon you and My word that I put into your mouth will not stray from your mouth and the mouth of your offspring and the mouth of your offspring’s offspring, said Hashem, from now and forever" (Yeshaya 59:21). The spirit refers to the general spirit of the Torah; the word refers to the specific required actions. When they are followed in detail, then they will not stray from your mouth, referring to those things that need to be pronounced with the mouth because the heart does not remember them by themselves like those things that are "My spirit that is upon you." Under such cases, there is an eternal covenant of "from now and forever."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
