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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Gemara:
Rabbi Abba was avoiding Rav Yehuda, as the former wanted to move to Eretz Yisrael, whereas Rav Yehuda posited that whoever makes aliya from Bavel violates the positive commandment of: "They will be brought to Bavel, and there they will remain until I will recall them, says Hashem" (Yirmiya 27:22).
Ein Ayah: It is a principle of the most complete levels of avoda (service of Hashem) that personal shleimut (completeness) and the desire for it do not compare to one’s part in the shleimut of the klal (whole). Only one who is dedicated to the shleimut of the klal is a real chassid, for it is based on what wisdom dictates, without the emotional element of self-love (causing one to want to personally succeed spiritually). Moshe epitomized this high level. Hashem told Moshe that Bnei Yisrael should be destroyed and the chosen people would reemerge through him, yet Moshe said that if Bnei Yisrael would not be spared, "Erase me from the book You have written" (Shemot 32:32). Among great people there are different levels of dedication to this distinction between personal shleimut and that of the klal, as it is impossible to rid oneself totally of the concern for personal shleimut.
Eretz Yisrael certainly adds shleimut, as the nation who lives there has sin removed and its air breeds wisdom. However, Rav Yehuda, whom Shmuel said was almost beyond human (Nidda 13a), was on such a high level that personal shleimut was of no value to him in the face of shleimut of the klal. Rav Yehuda saw Eretz Yisrael as the spring of salvation for the shleimut of the klal. That is why he felt that the individual had no right to enjoy the light of the Land’s shleimut before it came time for the klal to benefit from it. This in turn required a Heavenly decision to redeem them, whether it be via miracle or naturally. In any case, he posited that one had to wait for the klal to make it to Eretz Yisrael before personally doing so.
Rav Yehuda felt that if individuals would curb their spiritual desires to move to the Land, it would help hasten the klal’s salvation via Divine Providence. That way the prayers regarding return to Eretz Yisrael would be ones of the klal, which, because of their higher level, would be more likely to be accepted. Even if one were to say that Hashem will redeem us through natural steps, it would still need to be preceded by beseeching Divine mercy and an element of strengthening spiritual virtues. If an individual is unable to fulfill his spiritual passion to make it to the Land to which our eyes and hearts are tied, it will cause the national efforts to be strengthened. According to Rav Yehuda, whenever there is a step that could remotely impact on the klal’s chances, an individual must not make even his loftiest spiritual goals a factor. However, all other righteous people throughout the generations, with all their greatness, would not withdraw their personal quest for shleimut to the extent that it would prevent them from coming to the Land to benefit from its light due to some remote drawback. Especially since the higher the level of individuals, the higher the level of the klal, other scholars felt that it was proper for great people to stream to Eretz Yisrael when possible.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
