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A crucial discussion and disagreement among early rabbinic authorities is whether the final redemption depends on the people’s initiative to do teshuva or whether Hashem will be willing to lead us into the process (see Sanhedrin 97b-98a). Since Talmudic times, sages have given their explanations to the various opinions. We will now present the explanation of Rav Yehuda Alkalay, a crucial philosophical harbinger of Modern Zionism, who helped pave the way for people like Theodore Herzl. (Rav Alakalay was born in Sarajevo in 1798. He moved to Israel as a child and studied there, returning to his birth land for several decades, during which time he preached the importance of moving to the Land of Israel. He was able to move back to Eretz Yisrael for the last few years of his life and was buried on Har Hazeitim).
In general people think of teshuva in terms of strengthening belief in principles of faith and efforts to follow the Torah’s operative precepts, such as Shabbat and kashrut. Rav Alakalay made a revolutionary claim. Certainly at the end of the process of redemption, all of the individuals who make up the Jewish nation will keep mitzvot, study Torah, and will cling to Hashem. However, the earlier stages of teshuva relate to a general national teshuva that has no direct connection to the piety of the people. Its main element will relate to the return to the Land of Israel.
"You will contemplate the matter among all of the nations where I have dispersed you and you will return to Hashem, your G-d, like all that I have commanded you today" (Devarim 30:1-2). Rav Alkalay explains that the return to Hashem means a desire to return to His Land. The second stage of the process includes the actual return to the Land from throughout the Diaspora, which Hashem will Himself orchestrate (ibid. 3-5). This will not occur, Rav Alkalay posits, by direct Divine instruction, but by granting success to the people’s human efforts to return. Only the third stage includes the "circumcising of the heart" and the people’s listening to the mitzvot we were commanded (ibid. 6:8). Only in this final stage will individuals greatly improve their religious state.
As we saw last week, here too we see an expression of the idea whereby the national inspiration of the nation as a whole is also an expression of the Divine desire. This leads into Rav Kook’s idea that connects national and religious reawakening. As he wrote: "A willing reawakening of the nation as a whole to return to the Land ... has a light of repentance in it."
May we merit to see in our days the full fulfillment of the three stages.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts