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Beit Midrash
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- Zachor
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שולמית בת מלכה
On the Shabbat before Purim we read Parshat Zachor. The Halachic authorities determined that the obligation to read it is Mi D'Oraiita (from the Torah) and the Shulchan Aruch rules accordingly.
One who cannot come to the synagogue
One who cannot come to the synagogue - reads Parshat Zachor from a Chumash. In addition, on the Shabbat in the month of Elul when we read Parshat Ki Tezei, which includes the reading of Parshat Zachor: "remember that which Amalek did to you," he should tell the Torah - reader to intend to fulfill his obligation to hear Parshat Zachor.
The obligation of women in the reading of Zachor
The Halachic authorities are divided over whether or not women are obliged in the reading of Zachor. The Kaf HaChayim wrote that the reading of Zachor is a positive commandment which is not bound by time, and therefore women are obliged.
The Ben Ish Chai wrote in his book 'Torah LiShmah' that from the discussion in Sefer HaChinuch it follows that they are exempt for the reason that women aren't obliged in the annihilation of Amalek - as they are not warriors.
However in his book 'Yidai Chayim,' he wrote that the war against Amalek is a Mitzvah war, for which even the bride leaves her Chuppah and the groom his chamber. Therefore women are obliged.
Therefore, it is desirable that a woman come to the synagogue to hear Parshat Zachor read from a Sefer Torah. And if she cannot come, she must do the same thing a man must do under the same circumstances - she must read from a Chumash. And it is recommended that she make the condition beforehand that she is not accepting as a Neder (vow) to come the synagogue, so that in the future she will not be obligated by virtue such a Neder.
I once said jokingly that female soldiers serving in the army or in the police are obliged to read Parshat Zachor. Because the entire rationale for the ruling that women are exempt is because 'all the honor of the daughter of the king is inside' and she doesn't go to war, not even to wipe out the descendants of Amalek.
The Book of Judges (4:21) describes how the heroic Yael dealt with the evil Sisera, after seeing to it that he dozed off: "And Yael the wife of Hever picked up the tent peg and took the hammer in her hand, and she came over quietly to him and she drove the peg through his temple into the ground...and he died."
How did Yael kill Sisera? She took a peg and a hammer, put the peg to his temple, and rammed it in with the hammer. The peg entered one side of his head and came out the other, and that is how Sisera died. And the question that arises is: was this the only way she could kill him? Couldn't she have taken a sword or a dagger to kill him with? But Yael said to herself: swords and daggers are the weapons of men, and a woman cannot use the weapon of a man. But I can use a peg, since it is an implement for building a tent, and a woman can help in building a tent. Therefore she took the tent peg and killed Sisera with it.
Is Parshat "Parah" obligatory from the Torah?
The Shulchan Aruch says, "there are Halachic opinions that the requirement to read Parshat Zachor and Parshat Parah Adumah (the red heifer) is from the Torah. And the Kaf HaChayim, wrote, and the Gaon wrote as well, "we saw that Parshat Zachor is Mi D'Oraiita, but we didn't find (a source indicating) that reading Parshat Parah is required from the Torah. And indeed, we read Parshat Parah before Passover in order to remind ourselves to purify, and also so that G-d will cast pure water upon us, as the Nation of Israel did after the erection of the Mishkan (tabernacle), but reading it is not Mi D'Oraiita.
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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.
