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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Amram son of Sultana
To what is Yaakov’s fear a reaction? Is the fear one of the conclusions to the lessons he received by means of the dream? If so, mention of the fear should have prefaced the entire statement. Also, why should Yaakov be afraid after he was promised that Hashem would protect him wherever he went? The Radak (ad loc.) tries to explain that the fear was part of the reaction to the holiness of the place, not the content of the dream, but the location of the mention of the fear is still not addressed.
It is possible that these problems are that which brought the midrashim to explain the context of the fear as a hint of a fundamental problem which arose. "We learn from here that Hashem showed Yaakov the guardian angel of Bavel ascending and descending; that of Yavan (Greece) ascending and descending; that of Rome ascending and descending. Hashem said to Yaakov: ‘You too can ascend.’ At that time, Yaakov was fearful and said: ‘Maybe, just as these descend, so will I.’ Hashem said to him: ‘Do not fear. If you ascend, you will not descend forever.’ Yet Yaakov did not believe and did not ascend" (Vayikra Rabba 29:2). The midrash goes on to relate that Hashem told Yaakov that now that he did not ascend, his offspring would be subjugated by the four, aforementioned empires with taxes of all sorts and worse. At that point, Yaakov was afraid that he would never ascend, to which Hashem replied with the pasuk in Yirmiya (30:10): "Do not fear, my servant Yaakov, I will save you from distant [places]."
The lesson for all generations that we see from this episode is that the level of one’s belief is that which determines the level of Divine Providence one will experience. When one merits hearing the Divine voice telling him to ascend, if he has enough confidence in Hashem to carry out the mission, he actually saves himself from unnecessary dangers and complications in the future. These Divine voices need not be as explicit as those that Yaakov heard. The individual and certainly the leader are thrust into situations where they have to decide how to deal with the tests and challenges.
We pray that we will all merit to ascend in such a way that we will not have to descend.
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.
