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Beit Midrash
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- 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
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.
