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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Beit Shammai say: [The text of the beracha is] "Shebara meor ha’esh" (Who created the light of the fire). Beit Hillel says: "Borei meorei ha’esh" (Who created the lights of the fire).
Ein Ayah: At the foundation of the beracha on fire is the following important idea. It is not just those things that Hashem created directly that are to be considered His creations. Rather, we are to attribute to Hashem even "artificial" things that man with his innovations develops through nature. This is because Hashem created nature in such a manner that it is fit to join up with human intellect, which itself is a creation of Hashem, designed to uncover and create powers in the natural world, as these discoveries become appropriate.
For this reason, we recite a beracha on the first discovery/innovation that mankind made with his G-d-given wisdom: fire/light. Our Rabbis already taught us (Pesachim 54a) that Hashem gave Adam a divine inspiration, and he rubbed two stones together and produced fire from between them.
This idea serves as a prototype for the proper outlook on all future matters that man developed. All individual discoveries are to be viewed as a product of Hashem, as they are discovered in each generation. It is like the vegetation of the field, where each species has its own time when it sprouts forth. When the time comes for a certain natural power to be discovered or harnessed by mankind, the factors arise to kindle man’s interest and/or ability to do so. Our recognition of Hashem’s part in this type of creation, as well, is thus parallel to our observance of Shabbat to recognize that which Hashem did during the six days of creation. The difference is that on Shabbat, we credit Hashem for creation, in general, in which man had no part. In the beginning of the new week of human activity, we testify that even all of our actions are actually from Hashem, with man’s discovery and development of fire being one of them.
[In his introduction to Ein Ayah, Rav Kook referenced this piece. There he said that just as we attribute to Hashem our ability to discover things that are planted in the physical natural world, so too we attribute to His providence man’s ability to uncover ideas that are hidden in the Torah, the purely intellectual. Hashem’s providence allows ideas planted in the words of the Torah and Chazal to be discovered and used in later generations.]
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.