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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
[Og, the King of Bashan, lifted up a huge mountain to thrust on Bnei Yisrael, but through a miracle, it became stuck over his head.] Moshe was ten cubits tall, he took a spear that was ten cubits long, jumped ten cubits, struck Og in the ankle, and thereby killed him.
Ein Ayah: The image that is described has an eternal message. Bravery is indeed a nice tool, and it is very necessary for a nation that lives and performs important acts for itself and others in the world. However, the power a nation needs to display is not a power that is so physical that it strangles spiritual powers. Rather, such physical power should fall before the grandeur of spirituality. The proper type of power is that which gives strength to the power of the spirit and to wisdom. It is very appropriate for the spiritual power to support the pure spirit and "raise the person’s heart in the ways of Hashem" (based on Divrei Hayamim II, 17:6).
One cannot compare the physical prowess of a Moshe Rabbeinu to the awe-inspiring giant, Og. Yet, Moshe was able to overcome Og, with a touch of pure bravery, which comes from the power of a healthy and pure spirit in a healthy and pure body. That is enough to conquer the material strength so that it will not be able to rise up again.
When someone whose strength is spiritual needs to conquer someone of great physical strength, he will naturally use his great intellect in choosing a useful weapon. He also is likely not to be weighed down by animalistic denseness, but will be light in his ability to elevate himself in intellectual and ethical matters. The metaphor, in the physical realm, for this lightness is the ability of Moshe to jump ten cubits. Thus, Moshe even though he was strong, as befits a prophet (Shabbat 92a), was not so massive that his body or his spirit could not soar. His ability to jump ten cubits was a significant physical feat. However, it was no less an expression of a spiritual strength, enabling him to rise to the lofty calling that can be achieved when Israel is victorious. It suffices for a small strike of physical strength (i.e., hitting in the ankle), when it comes from a giant in spirituality, to destroy a giant of physical strength. This is reminiscent of the fall of the giant statue in the dream of Daniel, when it was struck in the leg and destroyed (Daniel 2:34).
Moshe’s victory is a case of an action by the forefathers that stands as an omen for future generations, as the voice of Yaakov will overcome the overly material hands of Eisav. As the p’sukim say: "Hashem will give valor to His nation" (Tehillim 29:11); "He will give valor to His king and raise the stature (literally, horn) of His anointed one" (Shmuel I, 2:10). The spiritual power of Israel will only touch lightly the material power related to idolatry, which proclaims, "I am it, and nothing else exists." Indeed idolatry has ceased from the better part of mankind, based on a mere touch by Moshe Rabbeinu. The spirituality that has come from the springs of Israel has made great progress, and will culminate eventually when Mashiach comes with the "the staff of his mouth and the spirit of his lips" (Yeshaya 11:4) to bring both salvation and the end of evil.
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.
