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Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Serving Hashem, Mitzvot and Repentance
This situation has changed radically over the past century. Most of American Jewry is not assimilated - it is simply completely ignorant of its faith. There is no longer a societal bond, language or calendar that binds them to their token faith. They are abysmally ignorant of everything about Judaism. Every new "progressive" idea dominates their worldview and they impose these currently correct ideas on Judaism. Is there any wonder therefore that the rates of assimilation and intermarriage remain so depressingly high? Faith and tradition cannot take root in the soil of Jewish ignorance. This not only applies to Jewish observances but it applies to the attitude of Jews towards the Land of Israel and the Jewish state therein as well. Ignorant of Jewish history and tradition, bereft of any knowledge of Judaism and its values, naively accepting the propaganda of our enemies as being true or at the very least worthy of equal consideration, is there any wonder then that the lies of the Left are accepted and acted upon by these well-meaning but destructive Jews? As long as Jews are more familiar with Shakespeare than Isaiah we remain in danger of losing an entire generation of Western Jews to further assimilation and intermarriage.
The situation here in Israel is somewhat more complicated, better and more hopeful. However here also the problem now is no longer the rebellious unbelievers of a century ago, the doctrinaire atheists and Marxists who controlled the yishuv and later the country for much of the past century, but rather a generation of ignorant Jews who speak Hebrew but know little about Judaism and its values and observances. The Israeli secular school system has been drained of any traditional Jewish education over the past few decades. There are no longer contestants for the prizes in the world bible contest from secular Israeli schools. Yet there is a longing for some sort of Jewish life here and the correct formula for developing such a society has not yet been developed. The Jewish holidays here are a great unifying factor, even for those who choose not to observe them in any traditional form. At least everyone in Israel is aware that there is a holiday called Shavuot, something that unfortunately cannot be said regarding Western and American Jewry. But there really is no substitute for knowing when it comes to Jewish life and the survival of Judaism and Israel. It is the core problem that faces the Jewish world in our time and it will take great effort, immense resources and tenacious will to be able to grapple with it successfully.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.