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I would not attempt to deal with a problem of this magnitude. The book of Iyov stands as a stark reminder of the futility of reading God’s mind, so to speak. The finite cannot effectively deal with the infinite and attempting to do so is only wearisome and frustrating beyond end. But there is an obvious insight that all of us can certainly glean from such an event as the Chanukah fire. And that is the lesson of the uncertainty of life and its events. It is this very uncertainty that makes life precious and drives us to make it meaningful and productive. We are therefore commanded to exploit it to the fullest together with the time and circumstances that life provides for us. That is what Rabbi Akiva meant when he said that one should never postpone Torah learning or any other good and productive deed or program for tomorrow, "for who knows what tomorrow brings to a human being?" Therefore Judaism abhors procrastination and twiddling delay. Life is too uncertain to allow for unnecessary postponements and the wastage of time and opportunities. If there is anything that inexplicable events and tragedies can teach us it is that the very uncertainty of life forces us to live it in a prudent and immediate state of mind. We planned on celebrating a Chanukah of lights and instead we are forced to commemorate a Chanukah of raging, uncontrollable murderous fire and conflagration. There is certainly a telling lesson in that stark fact that we have just witnessed.
On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, according to the traditional Ashkenazic rite, one of the main prayers of the musaf service concerns itself with what is inscribed in the book of judgment in Heaven for the coming year. Various forms of death and tragedy are mentioned in that poetic prayer. One of them is "who will pass on because of fire." I thought of that passage upon hearing and following the sad news of the great forest fire in the north of Israel and of the resultant loss of life - seemingly innocent young life. The prayer advances no reason for the long list of possible fatal mishaps that can and do occur to human beings on a regular basis. It is so inscribed in the book and the justification for that inscription is not revealed to us in this world. The Rebbe of Kotzk pithily stated: "For the believer there are no questions and for the scoffer there are no answers." That is probably the only sensible comment that can be made regarding the great Chanukah fire that we have just experienced. May the bereaved somehow be comforted and the wounded and injured healed speedily and completely. And may only good events surprise us in the future, uncertain as it is certain to be.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
