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Beit Midrash
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- Ein Ayah
We make a blessing on a miracle that occurred to many people, but not to one that occurred to an individual. But didn’t Rava tell a person who … was saved from a lion to make the blessing, "… Who did a miracle for me in this place"? On a miracle that happened to many people, everyone is required to recite the blessing; on a miracle that occurred to an individual, only that person is required to recite the blessing.
Ein Ayah: The simple explanation of the distinction between the individual and the masses is that the masses are not affected by the miracle that occurred to an individual, whereas everyone is included in the miracle that happened to the masses. However, this would not be taking into account the goal of blessings on miracles, which is to make it be known that Hashem is behind the miracles that occur. This can be achieved even when people are aware of a miracle that transpired to an individual. Indeed, besides the idea that miracles save someone or some group from a situation of grave danger, they also serve the function of saving people eternally by strengthening the ethical side of either the group or the individual. We need to know how to look at a miracle in order to know what lessons to extract from it.
Nature is also a means to know Hashem for one who contemplates. Since "that which is common comes before that which is uncommon," it behooves us to give more attention to the Divine Hand that we can see within nature, which is common. One can receive great spiritual gain from contemplating nature, as p’sukim say: "Raise your eyes and see Who created these" (Yeshaya 40:26) and "You have made me with happy with Your actions, in the work of Your hands I will rejoice" (Tehillim 92:5).
On the other hand, man needs to awaken the dormant feeling and
intellectual/spiritual elements within him, and this can be accomplished by means of miracles that come at the right time to help the right person in the right way. In order to awaken these dormant feelings, only something that comes rarely can be effective. Just as miracles serve their ethical purpose only if they are performed rarely, so too recalling them is effective only when one does so on a non-consistent basis.
Regarding miracles for the masses, it is appropriate for people to be inspired by them when the Divine Providence brings people to the specific place in which they occurred. However, if he made a blessing every time someone came to a place where a miracle occurred to any individual, then there would be so many opportunities to make a blessing on the miracles that it would no longer have the desired effect. On a regular basis, one is supposed to be impacted by the knowledge that Hashem runs the world with perfect wisdom in a set, natural manner, not by contemplating miracles. That is why the Rabbis said: "Whoever says Hallel (the psalms reserved for special times) everyday, is like a blasphemer" (Shabbat 118b). Rather, on a daily basis one should be inspired by the way Hashem created and maintains the wonderful natural world.
Regarding the individual to whom the miracle transpired, the matter is different. Certainly he witnessed the miracle because it was something that was fitting for him. Therefore, when Divine Providence brings him to the place where a miracle happened to him, bringing with it a reinvigorated emotional connection to Hashem, he should fulfill his obligation to be thankful and in the process help improve himself.
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
Igrot Hare’aya Improving New Yishuv More Practical than Alternatives
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook #107
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.
