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Beit Midrash
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[The following took place on the day that the more welcoming Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya replaced the less tolerant Rabban Gamliel in the post of Nasi (roughly, Supreme Rabbinical Court Head).] The guard to the entrance of the beit midrash (study hall) was removed, and permission was given to students to enter, for Rabban Gamliel would announce: "Whoever’s inside is not like his outside should not enter the beit midrash".... On that day, they studied Eidiyot (Testimonies).
Ein Ayah: This teaches us a great lesson about the importance of increasing the number of students. This is because there are many different ways of learning and not all of them require students to be on a high level.
There is a difference between a witness and a judge. A witness can testify even if he is friendly or antagonistic toward the person he is testifying about because we are not concerned that he will allow such feelings to make him lie. However, such feelings can sway the mind of the judge to unknowingly lean in the direction he desires.
Regarding the study of Torah, the same distinction exists. There are elements of Torah study in which one is like a judge, specifically regarding new halachic issues and matters that are in doubt. To take part in decisions on these matters, one has to have highly refined characteristics. Otherwise, he could be swayed to use incorrect reasoning in coming up with rulings based on his improper natural inclinations.
However, this fear should not cause us to close the doors of the study hall to those who are not of the highest caliber, for there are many elements of Torah in regard to which one is like a witness, not a judge. These include clear cut halachic matters and straightforward matters of ethics. There is no reason to suspect that one will falter or cause others to falter in these areas. In order to show the purpose of removing the guard from the study hall entrance they studied Eidiyot. That involved accepting testimony on halachic matters from people who were not of the highest level but whose testimony about how they had seen halacha implemented was nevertheless accepted in important issues (see Tosefta, Eidiyot 1:3).
What One Should Do When he Is Too Tired to Learn
(condensed from Berachot 4:27)
Gemara:
When Rabbi Zeira was exhausted from learning, he would say: "I will go and sit by the opening of Rabbi Natan bar Tuvia’s study hall, so that when the rabbis pass by, I will stand up before them and thereby receive reward."
Ein Ayah: The powers of the spirit strengthen when one’s physical powers are healthy. That is why the Rambam (Dei’ot 4:1) says that keeping oneself healthy is an element of serving Hashem. One cannot picture abstract concepts accurately when he is exhausted. Great people think about abstract concepts when infused with a spirit of holy love of the Divine, which they cannot do when they are tired. However, they do not want to waste their time just because they cannot reach their maximum. They will look for a lower form of service, such as doing mitzvot in order to receive reward, which does not require the same thought process.
Rabbi Zeira, though, still wanted the mitzva he would be rewarded for to be connected to the high levels of Torah. Therefore, he chose to stand before Torah scholars and in that way strengthen the respect for the Torah by respecting those
who study it. Glorifying Torah brought about his goal of bringing love of Hashem into the world. As it says in the Sifrei (Devarim 6:6), by learning Torah one comes to recognize and appreciate He Who said and caused the world to be. Ein Ayah: The powers of the spirit strengthen when one’s physical powers are healthy. That is why the Rambam (Dei’ot 4:1) says that keeping oneself healthy is an element of serving Hashem. One cannot picture abstract concepts accurately when he is exhausted. Great people think about abstract concepts when infused with a spirit of holy love of the Divine, which they cannot do when they are tired. However, they do not want to waste their time just because they cannot reach their maximum. They will look for a lower form of service, such as doing mitzvot in order to receive reward, which does not require the same thought process.
Rabbi Zeira, though, still wanted the mitzva he would be rewarded for to be connected to the high levels of Torah. Therefore, he chose to stand before Torah scholars and in that way strengthen the respect for the Torah by respecting those
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.
