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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Rosh Hashana
- Shofar Blowing
The shofar of Sinai is that of the granting of the Torah to Israel. This shofar’s sound is ongoing. In fact it gains strength throughout Jewish history. Its sound gains volume as time passes. There is no record of any type of scholarship in human history or society that equals the scholarship devoted to Torah study and interpretation by the Jewish people over the ages. One of the saddest aspects of the overriding Jewish experience in current day Jewish society is its abysmal ignorance of Torah scholarship and its importance in the Jewish story of survival and accomplishment. He sound of the shofar of Sinai is muted except for a certain section of Jewish society that continues to insist that Torah is and should be the main component of Jewish education and life. But without the shofar of Sinai being heard and its echo constantly reverberating within the Jewish world we are doomed. Assimilation today is not so much born out of malice or ideology - the old time apikorsim are long since gone from the Jewish scene, victims of their desertion of Jewish tradition and practice - as it is a product of ignorance of everything Jewish. Non-Jewish values have been adapted to be the new Jewish religion adorned with fancy slogans such as tikun olam. But if the shofar of Sinai is not heard then all of these innovations, attractive as they may seem, are soon to be consigned to the dustbin of Jewish history as so many other "good progressive" ideas of times past have been. A concerted effort to hear the shofar of Sinai is certainly one that should be high on our list of intentions for the good new year coming upon us.
The shofar of redemption sounds initially very softly - one has to strain to hear it. But it also eventually becomes stronger and more vibrant. The land and State of Israel continues to grow and in many ways prosper no matter its military, political, diplomatic and economic obstacles. It contains within it the prospect of great accomplishments for the Jewish people and the world generally. Just as there are Torah and Sinai deniers there are Israel and redemption deniers. The sound of that shofar is not heard either in large sections of Jewish society. It is fashionable in many Jewish circles to support Israel’s enemies with money and media attention. Somehow certain groups of Jews hear the siren song of exile and belonging in non-Jewish societies and are deaf to the sound of the shofar of redemption. In the height of hypocrisy they campaign against Israel and Jewish values while stating piously that everything they do is really for the benefit of the Jewish people and the State of Israel itself. One needs a clear mind and perceptive ears to hear the two shofrot of Jewish life. They can be heard on this Rosh Hashanah if we only listen carefully to the sound of the shofar of the day and internalize its meaning and message within our mind and hearts.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.