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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One should always come early to shul in order to merit being among the first ten, for even if a hundred come after him, he receives reward corresponding to all of them.
Ein Ayah: The advantage of the collective (or group) over the individual is in two areas: the qualitative and the quantitative.
Every individual whose heart is focused correctly will dedicate all his toil to the life of the group and its completeness. There are two reasons for this. One is that it is a matter that good sense and integrity dictates that one should be more concerned for the needs of the collective than for his own because there are more of them. Furthermore, there is an added qualitative value to the life of the collective, which makes striving to improve it more worthwhile than striving to improve the life of an individual. This is similar to the idea that the life of a wise and righteous person is more profound than that of someone who has not developed himself.
When comparing the individual and the collective in terms of quantity, it does not make sense to make a cut off point between a group and a collective and say that a certain point there is a group and any further increase does not make a difference. After all, the more people in the group the more important the quantity becomes. However, when you are discussing the qualitative distinction between that which makes up individuals and collectives, it is a question of at what point this special status is reached. After that point is reached, it is only a matter of increasing quantitatively. While the quantitative increase has importance, as well, it does not create a qualitative distinction.
Along these lines, when ten men get together to daven, they create a situation of a group service of Hashem. After this, if additional people join, this is significant as the increase in number gives greater significance. However, this is just a bigger group and therefore those who created the group, made the change which was of inestimably greater significance. This is reminiscent of what the Kuzari writes that the difference between different types of elements in the world (mineral, vegetable, animal, man) is far greater than the differences between two members of the same type of element. Therefore the individuals who create the minyan receive a reward corresponding to all that come afterward.
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.
