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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Amram son of Sultana
But problems arose. Adam abused his rights in the Garden of Eden and took more of the earth’s fruit than he was permitted. As a result, both mankind and the earth itself were punished (ibid. 3: 17-19). But the basic relationship was still intact. At the end of life, man would still be interred in the source of his life, "for you are earth, and to earth you shall return" (ibid.).
Then the problems became more severe. Cain, whose occupation was to work the land, first sinned by not using its bounty properly to show respect to his Maker. The situation deteriorated to the point that he killed his brother. In the process, a strange turn of events occured. Previously, Adam had opened his mouth to absorb a part of the earth’s fruit that was off limits to him. At this point, Hashem criticized the earth for opening up its "mouth" to absorb a part of man that should have been off limits to it. The ground should be the burial place of the deceased. But here, the earth covered up the blood of a mortally wounded, live person, thus serving as an accomplice to the crime (see 4:11 with Rashi). At this point, Cain is told that even with hard work, he would not succeed in working the land productively.
What does Cain do with the new circumstances? The Torah relates that he built a city and named it after his son, Chanoch (a name which hints at the concept of inauguration). Rav Hirsch notes that the Torah does not use past tense to tell that he built a city, but says that he became the builder of a city. In other words, he changed professions and initiated a direction for himself and his offspring afterward. That was to ignore, cover up, and build over the ground with the man-made, a city. He gave up finally, out of resignation, not necessity, on the former relationship between man and Mother Earth.
This approach was reversible. Noach developed agricultural tools to help deal with the curse of the ground (Rashi on 5:29). After his generation caused the destruction of the natural world as it was known, Noach came out of the ark and became a "man of the ground" (ibid. 9:20). From those times on, there has been tension between segments of society. Some have felt Mother Earth’s call and have embraced an agrarian lifestyle and value system. Others fit into the mold of city-builder (or, at least, city dweller), giving up on the dream of repairing the damaged relationship between man and the earth. Some live with internal conflict between the differing feelings.
In Eretz Yisrael, we have a special closeness to the Land, which impacts on its inhabitants. Here even city dwellers should find a way to connect to it.
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.
