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Beit Midrash
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The Talmud tells us that the mother of the great tanna - scholar of the Mishna - Shamai, the compatriot of Hillel, brought him into a Succah while still an infant. Aside from the obvious meaning that the rabbis teach us that there is no better time to train Jews in observance of God’s commandments than in their youth I think that there is something deeper that is taught here in this seemingly ordinary anecdote. Shamai’s mother wanted him to experience that whiff of immortality that the succah brings with it. In the succah there are the unseen but omnipresent guests of the founders of our people - the ushpizin. Hovering over the succah are the unseen clouds of glory that enveloped us in the desert of Sinai and the memories of generations upon generations of succot constructed all over the world in our past and present. Infants yet see the unseen; they are still close to the source of eternity from whence they have newly arrived. The infant Shammai is at home in the succah because all that is unseen to those who are older and more mature is till real and present to the infant. Studies show that the infant dreams while sleeping. What are those dreams about? Are they not the recollection of its soul as to whence it sprang and was ushered into this world? Shammai the infant is at home in the succah for it is also a place of eternity and beauty, a harbinger and reminder of the eternal world itself.
One of the great revivals in the Jewish world over the past number of decades is the availability and purchase of very large amounts of etrogim, lulavim, hadasim and aravot in honor of the holiday of Succot. Again I remember that as a child worshipping in the synagogue where my father served as a rabbi there were only three sets of the four species present in the synagogue for the seven hundred fifty worshippers who attended the services! Among the many accomplishments of the State of Israel in the field of the spiritual rejuvenation of Jewish practice and study the popularization of this mitzvah of the four species is surely one of them. The growing and merchandising of the four species has become an industry of note on its own. There is to a certain thrill in holding in one’s hand the fruits of the rejuvenated Land of Israel which yields its bounty to its children who have returned to it from near and afar. In rabbinic responsa there are countless recitations of the difficulties that Jews living in the Diaspora had in obtaining the four species and the lengths and costs that they went to obtain these species for Succot. And lo and behold look how easy and simple it has become in our time with the existence of the State of Israel in our holy land to fulfill this joyous commandment. This alone makes our commemoration of succot the time of our happiness.
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.
