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One of the great and holy Russian Jewish refuseniks records in his memoirs his determination to light Chanuka lights while imprisoned in the Russian prison. Since he did not have a calendar - Jewish calendars were very rare in Communist Russia even for those not officially incarcerated in prison - he was unaware as to the exact dates of Chanuka. Nevertheless he was determined to light his little candle. He saved scrapings of the meager soap allowance granted him to use as fuel and tore threads from his prison uniform to serve as his wicks. And in a cold Russian prison he clandestinely lit his little light, hidden by his body from the KGB prison warders on a night that he hoped was Chanuka. A few years later when he reached Israel and related his story of the Chanuka light in prison a great rabbi informed him that he had performed the mitzvah limhadrin min hamehadrin - in the highest and most holy fashion possible. The darkness of the evil empire that was the Soviet Union was eventually overcome by the little lights kindled in the recesses of its prisons by Jews who believed in the power of good to overcome the forces of evil. In the eyes of Heaven so to speak a little light means a great deal. It displays our commitment to goodness and righteousness, tradition and holiness and is thus treasured dearly both in heaven and on earth. It is what gives Chanuka its special place in Jewish hearts and souls.
This week the Jewish world will light its little lights of Chanuka. Many have ornate silver menorahs to hold those little lights. Others will make do with more simple and modest candle holders. No matter, for it is not the candle holder that is the main object in the lighting of the Chanuka fires - it is the little light itself that carries all of the weight and importance of the holiday and its holy meaning. Once when my children were very young I explained to them that they should not feel badly that I was using an elaborate rabbinic silver menorah for my Chanuka lights while they had clay menorahs that they had made in school. One of my children assuaged my anxiety by saying: "Don’t worry, Daddy, my candle will burn as brightly as yours does!" How correct was that statement. It is after all the little lights that count. It is they that drive away the hopelessness and pessimism that the darkness of the surrounding world thrusts upon us. Chanuka comes to reinforce the good angels that lie within all of us. It teaches us that nothing is impossible in God’s world and that evil eventually will not prevail against us. Chanuka is the right holiday at the right time for us here in present day Israel. Let us always remember that a little light can truly overcome a great deal of darkness.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
