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Beit Midrash
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On the first day of Pesach, we stop praying for rain and even praising Hashem for it. The severely prohibited chametz comes from a meeting between grain and water. Some groups even keep water away from matza after it is baked. The miracles around the liberation culminate with Bnei Yisrael going through the sea in dryness.
On Sukkot, so much is related to water. The shaking of the lulav is a way to pray for an abundance of rain in the upcoming season. Aravot are identified by the Torah as growing on streams, and the hadas leaves are shaped like rain drops. Hitting the aravot and the Hoshana prayers are related to requests for rain. In the Beit Hamikdash, there were libations of water only on Sukkot, as all year wine was poured, and this was accompanied by the Simchat Beit Hasho’eva activities, which were particularly joyous events.
There is another major contrast between Pesach, when we distance ourselves from water, the universal sign of life, and Sukkot. Pesach is observed within the house, where the Korban Pesach must be eaten in a group. Not only might goyim be insulted by the verses of Shefoch Chamatcha, but they cannot partake with us in the wine and the Korban Pesach. In contrast, on Sukkot, we go out of the normal house, with its firm walls, into an incomplete structure. We are much more universalistic in thought, as we read about hosting the nations of the world in Yerushalayim in our future Beit Hamikdash (see Zecharya 14).
It is interesting that Ezra, who put a lot of focus in his public work, on separating Bnei Yisrael from the nations that had settled in Eretz Yisrael and strengthening the hold on Yerushalayim, began his journey to the Land in the beginning of the month of Nisan (Ezra 7:9). In contrast, Shlomo celebrated the opening of the first Beit Hamikdash specifically on Sukkot (Melachim I, 8:2), and in his address stresses his universalistic dreams for the holy structure.
Let us hope that we will merit that Am Yisrael will experience the holiday of our freedom in a spirit of proper balance between the factors that bring us to gather in and those that bring us to have influence on the outside world.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
