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Beit Midrash
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The Talmud describes for us the discussion between the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel regarding the praise and song that should be heaped upon a bride at her wedding celebration. The House of Shammai said that the praise should be proportionate to her real appearance, talents and virtues. The House of Hillel stated that all brides should be described as being beautiful, graceful and of kind nature. The House of Shammai thereupon questioned this judgment stating that the Torah bids us to be truthful and to refrain from obvious untruths and exaggerations. The House of Hillel responded: "One who purchases a non-returnable object from the open market and asks your opinion regarding it, should one praise the purchase or criticize it, thereby causing sadness and ill-feeling?" Jewish custom and behavior follows the opinion of the House of Hillel. Wisdom and tradition teaches us that absolute truth is not always mandatory in every and all circumstances of life. The halacha permits exaggeration and selective truth regarding the contents of eulogies of the deceased. Absolute truth can be searingly painful and terribly divisive in certain situations. The Talmud teaches us that the Lord abhors, so to speak, serial liars. Truth is an absolute value that should be aspired to and cherished in Jewish life. Nevertheless, it should be applied wisely and sometimes even sparingly in order to uphold the sacredness of harmony and peace in family and community.
The big lie is an unfortunate resident in modern society. All of the totalitarian governments of the last centuries developed the big lie into a permanent art form and a necessary feature of their cruelty towards their own people and others. Propaganda itself became the lifeline of tyrants and despots. The big lie struck at Jews more than at any other segment of society in Europe. Both Hitler and Stalin exploited it viciously and murderously. The current Moslem world is nurtured on the big lie regarding Jews, the State of Israel and Western civilization. And as has been so tragically proven the big lie, repeated often enough and forcefully enough, eventually is accepted by many as truth. Judaism therefore warns us against being seduced by lies. The Talmud teaches that falsehood eventually will not stand the test of time for it has no real basis to exist and maintain itself. We are taught that truth eventually springs forth from the ground itself like sproutings from seeds planted deep within the earth. Looking at the surface of the ground one only sees the falsehoods, the hypocrisies, the big lie that dominates all thought and policies. But deep within the nature of humans is the longing for truths and honesty, transparency and accountability, justice and fairness. And therefore eventually truth does will out and grow and blossom. From the bowels of the earth can be heard the declaration of the descendants of Korach - he who perpetrated the big lie against Moshe and Aharon - that "Moshe is true and his Torah is true." The struggle for truth continues in our generation as well.
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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.
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.
