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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Bechukotai
After receiving the approval of all the tribes for his kingdom in Chevron, David took the following steps. He chose a capital city that would symbolize the unification of the tribes into one political entity and captured that city, Yerushalayim, from the enemy. Yerushalayim had several advantages, including the following. It had never been inhabited by Jews of any tribe. The city connects between the sons of Leah and the sons of Rachel, as it is on the border between Yehuda and Binyamin (see Yehoshua 15:7-8). One can add in that there is an opinion among Chazal that Yerushalayim was not included in the division of the Land among the tribes.
Another step that David took was creating diplomatic connections that ensured him raw materials and engineering expertise to enable him to succeed in national projects. This was done between David and Chiram, the King of Tzor. A third step that David took at that time was to bring the aron that contained the luchot habrit (the tablets) to Yerushalayim, in a first step toward the eventual building of the Beit Hamikdash. This turned Yerushalayim to not only the political capital of Israel but the spiritual one as well. Thus, the order of events was to first create the political base for the nation, then to make diplomatic arrangements, and only afterward to start building the Temple.
We see Shlomo developing matters in this order as well. The first two perakim of Melachim deal with the question of who would sit on David’s throne after him. The next three deal with developments in the political, financial, and international realm. Only in the subsequent three perakim is the matter of building the Beit Hamikdash raised. Again, first a stable kingdom, then a Mikdash. Interestingly, after discussion of the Beit Hamikdash, the navi returns to the topic of national developments, thereby creating an envelope that makes it clear that the matters are interrelated.
This order applies also in regard to the events commemorated during the time of sefirat ha’omer. First we have Pesach, celebrating the emergence from slavery to freedom. Only afterward do we celebrate Shavuot, symbolizing our spiritual freedom. The acceptance of the Torah enables the spiritual element to enter the national arena and give it meaning.
In our days as well, first we celebrated the establishment of the State, on the 5th of Iyar, and less than two decades later, we were blessed with the liberation of the complete area of Yerushalayim including the site of the Beit Hamikdash, on the 28th of the same month. Let us pray that we will soon merit that the political entity we received will be increasingly more essentially Jewish, which will enable us to build the State in a manner that its Torah values are at its center.
Parashat Hashavua The Strength of His Actions He Told to His Nation
Harav Shaul Yisraeli – from Siach Shaul, pp. 6-8
Peninei Halakha 11. Shaving One’s Beard During the Three Weeks
Chapter 8: The Customs of the Three Weeks
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.
