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Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- The Jewish Household
- Various Subjects
Ashkenazic Jewry and Sephardic Jewry as well, though by employing different customs to do so, memorialized themselves and their previous generations by continuing to name their offspring with the names that were common in their family background. In current Jewish society, except for perhaps the Charedi world and parts of the religious society, this method of naming children has waned. Modern names are employed. When the child grows up and reaches understanding and maturity there is no connection with one’s ancestors. He or she does not bear a generational name. In the course of my rabbinic career I have had many people come to me to ask how they can trace their generational roots. Many times their name was the clue that allowed a successful search to be made. We all wish to know from whence we came. The sense of generations is comforting because than does not feel alone. One has a past and if one is blessed with grandchildren, let alone great grandchildren, then one has a future as well. We are able thereby to live beyond the grave. The Torah counts the Jewish people a number of times, sometimes by name. Names in classical biblical Hebrew described one’s genealogy, who one’s parents were and sometimes even who one’s grandparents were. Bezalel who was the architect and the builder of the Tabernacle in the desert is identified by his generations. Someone who has a sense of generations is apparently entitled and able to build a holy place for himself and others even in an arid desert.
My little great granddaughter is too young to understand any of this yet. Only at the end of the Shabat did she recognize me sufficiently to smile at me. I hope that she will live in health and security to see her own great grandchildren smile at her. But I also pray that she and all of our family will have within their souls and psyches that treasure of appreciating the generations of our family. She is the sixth generation from my beloved grandfather who taught me Torah when I was a young child and whose Pesach seder remains embedded in my heart and memory till today many decades after the fact. So I see myself, as I think all of us should see ourselves, as the bridge between the known past and the unknown future. Armed with generational knowledge and family loyalties the Jewish people have weathered unbelievably difficult storms and times. This has been our solid anchor and the source of our tenacity and survival. Communicating this idea to our offspring is the real challenge of Jewish parenthood. We must not allow our future generations to be buffeted by the questions of "Who am I?" and "Where did I come from?" Thinking in generational terms provides strength, serenity and continuity to our lives.
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.
