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Hana Bat Haim
The beginning of the haftara raises many questions. Clothes do not warm David, and so his servants search for the most beautiful young woman in the land (Avishag Hashunamit) and bring her to lie next to David to warm him. Immediately thereafter, the navi relates that Adoniyahu, David’s son, made public steps to secure succeeding David as king. At first glance, affairs in the palace of David, author of Tehillim and our guest in the sukka on Hoshana Rabba, seem reminiscent of Achashveirosh’s palace, where a national beauty contest was held on his behalf. We should also consider whether the servants’ plan to care for David is connected to Adoniyah’s actions, or are both just outgrowths of his infirmed state. Note also that we learn from the continuation of the perek that these servants were of the highest echelons of David’s hierarchy. Why would they get involved in such a plan?
It is possible that the following, complex situation was influencing events. David had sworn to Bat Sheva that her son, Shlomo, would rule after him (pasuk 17, 30). There were those, including the Sar Hatzava, Yoav ben Tzruya and the Kohen Gadol, Evyatar, who vehemently opposed Shlomo’s ascension to the throne, for good reason. It would eternalize the significance of David’s union with Bat Sheva, which certainly had negative connotations, no matter how one learns that painful episode. Furthermore, Adoniyah was a wonderful, alternative candidate. The p’sukim mention the following worthwhile qualities. 1) He was the oldest of the firstborn of the mothers; 2) His actions had been without reproach until this point; 3) He was a most handsome man (also often a hint at a similar internal beauty); 4) The other princes and the nation supported his candidacy.
Despite all of this, David realized that Shlomo’s kingdom would strengthen the concept of the power of chazara b’teshuva, the ability to repent and be atoned, which Chazal tell us was the lesson of the episode of David and Bat Sheva. David’s officers did not accept this and tried to set him up for a failure that would prove that it was unwise to trust his judgment on the matter. That is why the navi uses phrases in the story of Avishag that are tellingly reminiscent of the parable of kivsat harash (the poor man’s sheep), with which Natan rebuked David after the story of Bat Sheva. David did not fight the plan, because he was prepared to prove that this time he was ready for the moral challenge raised by Avishag. Indeed, the navi relates that he did not have relations with her despite her availability. For this reason the navi uses the phrase "zaken, ba bayamim" to describe David’s old age, to demonstrate that he was clean of sin, like Avraham.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
