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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Purim & The Month of Adar
- Megilat Esther
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- Chemdat Yamim
Haman, in planning to destroy the Jews, looked for Bnei Yisrael’s "Achilles’ heel." He was happy when the lot showed that the time to fight the Jews was in the month of Adar, during which Moshe died. Chazal (Megilla 13b) tell us that it was actually a good time because Moshe both died and was born on the 7th of Adar. My rosh yeshiva, Rav Chayim Yaakov Goldwicht (who died on the 7th of Adar, 15 years ago) picks up on the implication that not just Moshe’s birth made Adar positive but even his death was part of the month’s positive element. How could this be?
He starts his answer with some background. The gemara (Shabbat 88a) says that Hashem coerced Bnei Yisrael to accept the Torah but that they willingly renewed their acceptance at the time of Achashveirosh. The midrash (Tanchuma, Noach 3) says that "we shall do and hear" was said willingly regarding the Written Torah, and the initial reluctance was regarding the more difficult Oral Law. The difficulty of the Oral Law is felt strongly at the time of one’s teacher’s death, when unanswered questions fall upon students who may feel insecure. The midrash (Bamidar Rabba 14:4) attributes the pasuk that calls the words of the wise "nails that are planted" to this time of the rabbi’s death, as the students know they have to internalize what they learned. Indeed, at the time of Moshe’s death, many Torah ideas were initially lost but were pieced together by the brilliance and hard work of Otniel ben K’naz. Thus, Moshe’s death was, at once, a tragedy but, on the other hand, was the impetus for the next generation of scholars to assume their role in the chain of tradition.
Moshe, Rav Goldwicht explains, is described as the sun, representing the immense power of the Written Torah, while Yehoshua, his prized disciple, represented the moon (Bava Batra 75a). The latter’s job was to reflect Moshe’s light, in the tradition of the Oral Law. Thus, the time of Moshe’s death was a good time for Bnei Yisrael to display their power of Oral Law, as Moshe’s death prepared them for the rededication to that element of the Torah at the time of Purim.
We can point out that the moon’s reflection of the sun’s light is only significant when the sun has passed on to another place. Even as the sun is then blocked from view, it continues to give light through the moon. As we pointed out, Purim is the holiday of hidden things, including the invisible hand of our ultimate Master, whose light is hidden throughout the story but is recognized only by those who know to discern it.
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.
