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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Passover - Pesach
Salvation from our enemies is an eternal requirement of the survival of the Jewish people. If we wished to we could declare a Purim holiday many times through the year to mark the salvation of Jewish communities throughout the world and the ages. Salvation is a constant companion of the Jewish people. Redemption is a much rarer commodity. We still await the ultimate redemption promised to us by the great prophets of Israel millennia ago. For redemption has this strong spiritual dimension to it and without this advancing and nobility of spirit redemption is only further delayed and postponed. Whereas Purim prefers a somewhat befuddled brain to mark our salvation from Haman Pesach requires clarity of thought and intensity of soul. Redemption comes from the inside while salvation arrives always from the outside and often if not most times unexpectedly, unplanned and illogically. Thus salvation can occur immediately and surprisingly. Not so redemption which requires planning, forethought, training and education. Purim requires relatively little preparation - it almost just descends upon us. Pesach requires a month or more of preparation and readiness because our souls have to become attuned to the ideas and goals of redemption. And that is usual a matter of great effort and struggle. It does not happen automatically or by itself. This period of time between Purim and Pesach is meant to remind us of this important lesson and to allow us to concentrate ourselves on preparing not only for salvation but rather for redemption.
The national independence of the Jewish people as personified in the existence of the State of Israel is alone insufficient to bring us a feeling of redemption. Since the state and the people of Israel generally are still a work in progress we can only continue to struggle towards our ultimate goal of the final redemption of Israel and the world at large. Every good deed, every act of social justice carries with it a message of redemption being brought nearer. No act of kindness and goodness, no matter how slight and minor we may consider it to be, escapers Heaven’s notice. It marks another step on our road to ultimate redemption. Therefore the laws of Pesach as recorded for us in Shulchan Aruch begin with the requirement to donate to the cause of the poor so that they may also enjoy a bountiful Pesach. Every Jewish holiday requires acts of charity and goodness towards others. It highlights the redemptive qualities of our holidays and of traditional Jewish life as lived over millennia. Purim also requires charity and its purpose there as everywhere is to move pure salvation to the level of redemption. One can only redeem one’s self by aiding others in need of help. Salvation saves one’s self. Redemption can save an entire world. Pesach, the holiday of redemption is fast upon us. Let us prepare properly for its joyous arrival.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
