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Beit Midrash
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Gemara:
Rabba bar bar Chana was travelling in a caravan. He ate and forgot to bentch. [After they departed] he said [to himself]: What shall I do? If I tell them that I forgot to bentch, they will tell me that wherever I bentch I am blessing Hashem. He said to them: "Wait for me because I have forgotten a dove of gold." He went back, bentched, returned, and found a dove of gold.
Ein Ayah: There is a difference regarding the nature of fulfilling mitzvot between the common person and the great thinking person who investigates the essence of everything related to the mitzva. The common person understands the mitzvot in a general type of way, as a reminder that we are servants to our Master, Hashem, but does not subscribe importance to the details. This is in line with the statement, "An ignorant person cannot be a pious person." This is why the other members of the caravan would not have appreciated the detail of going back to the place of eating. In contrast, a wise person understands that mitzvot impact on the world and appreciates them as great natural powers, which act on behalf of those who know how to follow them properly.
[Let us understand the idea behind Rabba’s claim about losing a golden dove.] One of the techniques of a wise person is to use riddles and parables (see Mishlei 1:6) that can be understood on different levels. The same statement can impact the general populace on their undiscerning level and enable someone who has reached a higher level to uncover a far deeper message. Both benefits are significant. Rabba’s invocation of the golden dove in concealed reference to the need to bentch where he ate was able to include a double meaning, as well. In this way Rabba fulfilled the pasuk (Yeshaya 40:8), "The hay will dry and the flower will wilt, but the word of our Lord will remain forever." Even that which corresponds to the hay and the flower, when it is in the way of Hashem, will always have meaning.
The following is what Rabba bar bar Chana intended to say, on his level, with the matter of the golden dove. The idea of returning to bentch where one ate is to bestow spiritual strength upon the matter of physical strength. Gold is something that is extracted from the depths of the ground. Gold in the form of a dove hints at the idea that the same earthen gold now has the power to fly high. So too the physical world, which can be related to very lowly things, can be spiritually elevated, when something holy like Birkat Hamazon adds its sanctity. The human spirit yearns to elevate itself above the physical world. When it is connected to the physical world and the light of sanctity shines upon it, it wants to fly like a bird to a greater closeness to Hashem. Since Rabba’s counterparts in the caravan could not understand that, it was proper that he would find an actual dove of gold [so that his statement would not be a lie from the perspective of their level].
This type of double meaning can be found regarding all the good ideas found in the words of the prophets. The ideas had to be cloaked in the lower images that simple people could understand, which themselves are valuable. There can be seven meanings to one illustration, and none is contradictory to the other but strengthens the other.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
