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Beit Midrash
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When Rabbi Yitzchak came, he said: There was one city in Eretz Yisrael called Gufaniyot, in which eighty pairs of brothers who were kohanim were married to eighty pairs of sisters who were the daughters of kohanim. The Rabbis checked from Sura to Naharda’a (two important cities in Bavel) and found only the daughters of Rav Chisda who were married to Rami and Mar Ukva, the sons of Chama, and while those sisters were the daughters of a kohen, the brothers were not.
Ein Ayah: The situation of a family when it is in a state of tranquility is an accurate sign of the nation’s completeness in ethics and good personal characteristics. Therefore, it is a wonderful to see the completeness of our forefathers’ holy attributes through the following observation.
It is normal that if a woman is not happy in her husband’s house, her sister will not want to marry her sister’s brother-in-law. When parents see their daughter happy, they and their other daughter will be interested in pursuing another match between the families. This is a high level to reach, and it is especially noteworthy that the families involved were kohanim, as they naturally have strong tempers (see Kiddushin 70b, based on Hoshea 4:4). Despite that, eighty couples of kohanim lived in such bliss that their siblings wanted to marry from the same family.
The foundation of familial peace within the nation is a life of modesty. Therefore, the greater the fear of Hashem and holy purity that exist within the nation, the greater the bliss that will exist within families. It is thus appropriate that the name of the city was Gufaniot, which reminds us of the Rabbis statements that grapes can only accept grafting from other grapes and that "the grapes of the vine and the grapes of the vine" (references to the marriage of children from two good families) is a proper matter (Pesachim 49a).
The interconnectedness of families is also a good sign of the physical and spiritual health with which Hashem blessed His nation when they dwell in completeness in the Land. This is because we know scientifically that when there is health within a family, children of two parents from the same family (if they are not so close that there is incest) are likely to be particularly healthy. On the other hand, when the family has illnesses within it, then the chances of problems with the children are much greater. When kohanim are careful to marry specifically from a family of kohanim, there is usually marriage within an extended family. We see that in the cases in question, the children turned out nicely, or else they would not have continued the practice so often. This shows that there was a completeness of the body and the spirit, which comes from following the Torah, which is a tree of life for those who cling to it.
This ideal personal and family setup is possible only when people are settled in the special Land that Hashem picked out for His nation according to its spiritual makeup. In the Diaspora, the nation cannot rise to such an ideal state. That is why this phenomenon was not found within the communities of Bavel. In the one case where brothers married sisters, only the sisters were from a kohen family. As mentioned, kohanim by nature have volatile personalities, and therefore only with excellent upbringing can they live harmoniously as couples. The attributes of kohanim are certainly more felt in the males, as they are the ones with the special status with all of its halachic and functional uniqueness. Therefore, those successful marriages involved only female kohanot and not male kohanim. Only in Eretz Yisrael does the sanctity allow for charm, peace, and good fortune, allowing for such tranquil families for the nation as a whole.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Ein Ayah Human Parenthood – Raising Coarse Physicality into Spiritual Light
condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 9:102
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.
