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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Someone who sees a place where miracles happened to Israel recites: "Blessed is He who did miracles for our forefathers in this place."
Ein Ayah: It is proper to view the unity between miracles and nature, as all of Hashem’s actions are one. Whatever nature is unable to maintain in the world’s proper function is provided by miracles. Therefore, miracles are not a totally different apparatus but are connected to nature. This "partnership" is also reflected in Chazal’s statement: "Hashem made a condition with the creations of genesis ...," as the miracle finds its place in cooperation with nature. Therefore, the question of how Hashem can change His mind [and do miracles] is not a question because the role of miracles is part of the apparatus that Hashem created.
The foundation of nature is place, because place encompasses all limited things, in quality and in quantity. When Chazal wanted to tell us that something is beyond nature, they said that it is beyond space, like the fact that the dimensions of the ark and cherubim did not take up space. (Yoma 21a). In our context, therefore, to demonstrate that miracles are connected to nature, and the two are connected to Divine Providence, we make the blessing, "Blessed is He who did miracles for our forefathers in this place."
A related message that we learn from the idea of miracles is that there is no chance in the world. Rather everything is a product of the providence that comes from the ultimate wisdom. If there were only nature, then we would say that although nature was created with great wisdom, there are individual occurrences, which have no purpose and happen only because of the rules of nature. However since miracles exist, which work outside the rules of nature, it turns out that nothing must be because of nature and if something happened as it did, it must have a specific reason. If something has a specific, divinely ethical purpose, then even its seemingly unimportant details have ethical significance. The place where a miracle occurs is a perfect example. While noting the miracle and realizing that there was a reason for it, we hint that there must be a reason why the miracle happened in the place it did. We do not say that the place makes no difference, even if we do not know what the reason is.
While miracles deserve a blessing, so too nature deserves blessings, as it is a manifestation of great divine grandeur and kindness. However, we must distinguish between thought and speech. Thought naturally extends to matters that will come only in the end of days, which are loftier to think about than matters of the present. In contrast, speech is related to those things that a person sees in the present. Nature runs in such a way that its connection to ethics will be seen only at the end of the days, for in the meantime it often seems that forces of evil have much success. Therefore, regarding natural phenomena, our thanks are reserved primarily for creation in general terms, as we feel that "Hashem’s kindness fills the land" (Tehillim 33:5). However, regarding specific events, we can see the good only with a broad eternal look, which is beyond words.
Miracles, on the other hand, are always done for a purpose that supports righteousness. Therefore, it is fitting to make the blessing with one’s mouth. Someone who wants to see the righteousness within the acts of nature is being unreasonable because such a wonderful, complex system cannot be fully appreciated by man. Therefore, one who recites Hallel every day is a blasphemer (Shabbat 118b). That would make Hashem’s running of the world look simplistic and compartmentalized, when actually, "How great are Your actions, Hashem? How deep are Your thoughts?" (Tehillim 92:6).
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.