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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: There are two possible ways to contemplate the greatness of Hashem in a manner that will bring a person to true love and awe of Him. One is to look in a scientific way at His complete actions, which are arranged in wisdom, kindness, justice, and straightness.
The second way is by having the scientific look lead to an emotional look, so that one yearns to love Hashem and be in awe of His loftiness and glory. It is true that by taking a scientific look, one does not normally come to understand Hashem’s essence. However, by allowing one’s heart to imagine and one’s spirit to desire, a coveting [of a connection] for the One who created all of these elements of nature can sprout forth.
The question is how a person should guide himself in this regard. Is it enough for a person to take an intellectual approach alone, allowing the internal excitement of the spirit to come on its own? Or, must he cognitively focus on the information with an eye toward creating a yearning for a connection to the very essence of Hashem’s glory that is loftier than any knowledge. Such a feeling cannot be known or calculated because it is beyond any calculation.
This is the difference between "hamotzi" and "motzi." Motzi (who took out) relates to the One who acted only from the perspective of His action alone, without getting into His characteristics. This represents our being interested in recognizing the significance of the action alone (in this case, the development of the grain that was turned into bread). By saying hamotzi (the One who took out), with the letter ה serving as an article, we touch on the internal, emotional element of seeking out the glory of Hashem from the perspective of Hashem Himself who did the action. His actual glory is greater than all the grandeur we can picture by contemplating His actions alone. This understanding of the heart is an outcome of the internal light in the nature of the human spirit. It becomes activated when we remove the roadblocks that impede it, allowing it to naturally go up to its glorified place. This experience is referred to by such p’sukim as "My soul is thirsty for You; my flesh yearns for You" (Tehillim 63:2).
We accept the opinion that hamotzi also applies to the past, thus making it true to the simple, external meaning of the beracha, which is to thank Hashem for producing the grain. This is something that all people are able to relate to. Since one does not detract from this basic meaning, there is great gain to adding the ה, thereby arousing those who have wise hearts to contemplate the greatness of their Maker with as clear a view as they are capable of. In that way, they can jump from the action to the One who acted and from the past into the future.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
