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Beit Midrash
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- Ein Ayah
Abayei said: One must thank Hashem [with Birkat Hagomel] before ten people, as the pasuk says: "They will extol Him in an assemblage of the nation" (Tehillim 107:32). Mar Zutra said: "Two of them must be rabbis, as the pasuk says: "…and in an assemblage of elders they will praise Him" (ibid.).
Ein Ayah: The joining together of many people has significant value only if it contains an element of ethical improvement. If we will give value to a group just from the material perspective, there is little chance of it helping reach piety or unity, for on a materialistic level, people’s material desires are individualistic. In contrast, ethical goals of wisdom and benevolence link all together and cause individuals to strive for the betterment of the masses. When one sees the impact of spiritual aspirations, even an individual will be filled with a desire to join and feel optimistic about the prospect of communal spiritual advancement.
A congregation requires spiritual guidance to have a lasting effect. There is a difference between those who see material gains as their main aspiration and give a place for spiritual guidance to keep things running smoothly, and between those who see righteousness as the purpose of forming the group. After all, only in the spiritual realm is the power of the congregation most significant. Those who are interested in material success will minimize the place of wisdom, whereas those who are interested in spirituality will strive to increase wisdom and the number of people who promulgate it. They will not be satisfied with the minimum needed to lead in a direction of spirituality but will want to have more of that good thing. With this attitude, the group will have a special power.
This is the reason to have ten, the minimum number for a congregation, including two rabbis. While in the context of leadership, there is an advantage in having exactly one leader for a group, when the matter is giving complete thanks to Hashem, the presence of more rabbis increases the insight that can make these thanks complete.
Leaders from Within the Group
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 9:19)
Gemara:
Maybe one should need ten rabbis [for Birkat Hagomel]? Does the pasuk say: "in a congregation of elders"? It says "an assemblage of the nation" (Tehillim 107:32). Maybe it requires ten regular people plus another two rabbis? This is a question.
Ein Ayah: The love we have for a community is based on a realization that an individual cannot reach his goals alone. Therefore, societies need many rules, whether those imposed by the Torah or those imposed by convention. With a group comprised only of rabbis, one might not realize the broad, basic importance of a congregation of people.
Scholars, upon realizing the spiritual advantages they have, may want to be separate from the rest of the people, so that they can reach greater spiritual heights than those found within regular society. However, the community is not built by such people. Rather true spiritual impact comes from those who are counted as part of the congregation. That is why the number ten includes rabbis within the count of the group.
There are scholars of an unusually high level, who cannot be included among those who are too far beneath them. These people give off so much light that it is proper that they ‘shine on the masses’ even from a distance. The problem is that regular people are too removed from them to discern their impact. Therefore, the one who is trying to use the presence of the rabbis to elevate his thanks of Hashem should use the type of rabbi who is close enough to his level so that they can relate to each other.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
