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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Terumah
After Bnei Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael, the Mishkan was situated in Shilo for hundreds of years, and this was the place where people came to bring sacrifices and come thrice yearly for their religious duties. However, there is no hint that Shilo had any role in other elements of running the country, governmentally or judicially. This is in contrast to the situation in the desert, where Moshe’s leadership emanated from the Mishkan. It was there that Moshe continued to receive the teachings that made up the Torah, until it was sealed in the 40th year in the desert, upon Moshe’s death.
We will try to see what happened in this regard in the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) in Yerushalayim, built by Shlomo. Let us look at the dates cited for the completion of the Beit Hamikdash. In Melachim I:6 it is cited that the building was complete in the eighth month (what we call Cheshvan) of the 11th year of Shlomo’s reign. In Melachim I:8, it talks about Shlomo gathering the people to inaugurate the Temple in the Festival (Sukkot) in the month of Eitanim (Tishrei). A third pasuk (Melachim I:9) talks about 20 years for the building of two houses: the House of Hashem and the House of the King.
If the Beit Hamikdash was completed in Cheshvan, why was the inauguration held in Tishrei? It is likely that Shlomo felt it was appropriate to celebrate specifically in the festive month of Tishrei. It could be that Shlomo moved up the inauguration a month before the final completion of the building. Alternatively, he could have waited eleven months until the next Tishrei.
It is also possible that the Beit Hamikdash complex was built in two stages. The actual Temple, where direct service of Hashem was held, was completed in seven years, and that is what was completed in Cheshvan. However, the entire seat of the kingdom that was built around the Beit Hamikdash went on for an additional thirteen years. This extended area included the chambers of the Sanhedrin (judiciary) and the king’s palace. According to this possibility, until all the elements of a sovereign functioning monarchy were in place, the ark was not brought into the Holy of Holies. That is the event that occurred in the month of Tishrei. At that point, the Divine Presence descended and occupied the Beit Hamikdash. The spiritual lesson of such an approach is far-reaching. Without all of the elements of a stable, successful society, the nation could not reach the highest spiritual levels.
Our prayer is that the governmental institutions, prominent among them, the Knesset (whose building is called Mishkan Haknesset), will fulfill their roles properly as those that help the Divine Presence dwell among us. Then Givat Ram (The Hill of the Lofty, where the Knesset is situated) will be an expression of the Divine, about Whom the pasuk says: "Ram v’nisa" (lofty and elevated) (Yeshaya 57:16).
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.
