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"He afflicted you and let you hunger, and He fed you the manna ... in order to inform you that not by bread alone shall man live, but by all that emanates from Hashem’s mouth (motza pi Hashem) shall man live" (Devarim 8:3).
The Ibn Ezra wonders how it is possible to speak simultaneously about Hashem causing hunger and feeding. Two of his answers diverge from the simple meaning. One answer is that the hunger preceded the giving of the manna. Another answer is that the hunger refers to other human desires that Hashem did not provide for in the desert. But how do we explain the simple p’shat? We also need to try to understand the connection between eating the manna and realizing that man lives on motza pi Hashem.
The Tur (Orach Chayim 208) cites a version of the beracha after eating the fruits of "the seven species," as follows: "venochal mi’piryah v’nisba mituva (we shall eat from its fruit and be satiated from its goodness)." The Tur objects, as this stresses the fruit of Eretz Yisrael, while we should covet the Land in order to fulfill the mitzvot that are linked to it. The Beit Yosef deals with this issue by explaining that we indeed give importance to the eating of Eretz Yisrael’s fruit, but because it enables us to say the next words, "and we will bless You over it in holiness and purity." The Bach goes further, saying that the eating of the Land’s fruits itself has sanctity, as the fruit gets sanctity from the Land, which gets sanctity from the "Divine Land." It is because of this sanctity that we are warned, "Do not defile the Land that you are living in, in the midst of which I dwell, for I am Hashem, who dwells among Bnei Yisrael" (Bamidbar 35:34). Since the Divine Presence is literally in the Land, then by eating the fruit, the Presence is found in our midst, as well. However, if we defile the Land, says the Bach, the fruit will be nourished from impurity, and we will lose the sanctity by means of the process.
We can now explain our pasuk in an interesting way, based on the Bach. The highest role of eating is to have motza pi Hashem enter the body through the foods. This was clear when eating the manna, as it did not bring physical satiation. This is, in fact, the Ibn Ezra’s third explanation (which he rejects) of the aforementioned hunger. Bnei Yisrael did not have the normal, physical sensation of satiation. As the phenomenon of eating the manna left Bnei Yisrael with only spiritual, not physical satiation, one could truly say that eating it taught Bnei Yisrael that one does not live just on bread, but rather on motza pi Hashem.
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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.
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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.
