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Beit Midrash
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Betzalel was named for his wisdom. When Hashem told Moshe: "Make a mishkan (the tent where the Divine Presence would dwell), an ark, and vessels," Moshe went and said [in] the opposite [order]: "Make an ark, vessels, and a mishkan." [Betzalel] said: "Our teacher, Moshe, the normal way of the world is for a person to build a house and afterward bring the vessels into them … The vessels you have commanded me to make, where shall I place them? Perhaps Hashem told you to make a tent, [followed by] an ark and vessels?" Moshe responded: "Maybe you were b’tzel (k)el (in the shadow of Hashem), and you knew."
Ein Ayah: A spirit that excels in art has a strong and natural picture of things. This inner feeling does not allow him to portray something in a manner that does not fit its characteristics. A musician similarly cannot stand to hear music that does not conform to the rules of natural harmony that are etched in the spirit because of his spirit’s natural sensitivity.
An artist is bothered by a development plan that strays from that which is normal. The feeling of a complete artist is a matter of great wisdom, and is even greater regarding someone like Betzalel, upon whom the spirit of Hashem rested (see Shemot 35:31).
There is a difference between order as seen by someone whose wisdom is in the realm of logic as opposed to one who possesses the wisdom of art. The first type sees things ordered based on wisdom and ethics. The artistic person views things according to their existence within the natural world. For the Master of All Matters, there is no contradiction between the order according to logic and that of art because His wisdom is beyond all and He is the source of the talent of art, which He put into creation. However, humans grasp the order of things differently according to their sensitivities. One who is close to logic and justice views things as needing to be ordered in line with those values, whereas one who is artistically inclined views things in the manner that they exist in practice.
Hashem listed to Moshe the elements of the Mishkan in a certain order, but He did not say whether this indicated the necessary order of their construction or there was some other reason. Moshe viewed the vessels as the reason for the Mishkan, as they would be involved in the service, and the tent was just a place in which they would be situated. He thus viewed the vessels as the matter that should be studied first, although he saw the tent first in his prophetic vision. However, he figured that the work should start with that which is holier than its counterpart, as this is a value that should take precedence.
Betzalel, on the other hand, could not imagine that matters should go against the nature of the world. He, after all, was supposed to make flowers for the menora modeled after real flowers and cups as they normally are. Because of Betzalel’s tendency, he raised the issue that it is normal for a person to first build a house and then bring in it its vessels. After all, he reasoned, the Mishkan was being erected according to artistic considerations.
Moshe responded that while the light of Hashem is logic and justice, the tendencies of artists and artisans are in the shade of Hashem. When one combines the two, he has a proper picture of how things should be. Betzalel was in fact blessed by being filled with "the spirit of Hashem, with wisdom, insight, and knowledge." With the shadow of Hashem that he was bestowed, he was close to the level of prophecy. Moshe agreed with Betzalel because Hashem uses man’s natural tendencies, which He implanted within him, to reveal Divine wisdom to man.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
