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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Va'etchanan
Throughout Jewish history, this became the final prayer of Jews passing from this life as well. It also became, because of our long and bitter history of physical persecution and martyrdom, the symbol of Jewish tenacity and commitment.
When a Jew enters the world and is old enough to first speak, the words first uttered are, Torah tzivah lanu Moshe (Moshe has commanded us regarding the Torah.) But, after life has been lived, with all of its differing experiences, one of the last words that a Jew recites are Shema Yisrael.
Torah is intellect and a way of life, commandments, ritual and custom. Torah is particular and not general, parochial and not universal. It is the stuff of this world and its complexities, challenges, disappointments. Faith - the Shema Yisrael statement – is the stuff of eternity, of the better world, of a transcendent relationship with the Creator of us all.
It is universal and its message is directed to all, Jew and non-Jew, scholar and unlettered alike. Faith and belief alone, without actions and observances, is not sufficient for Jewish life to exist. But actions and observances without faith and belief eventually become meaningless, if not even hypocritical.
A Jew is bidden to recite Shema Yisrael twice daily, with fervor and concentration. One is to actually think about the words that one is reciting when saying the prayer. The rabbis called the Shema Yisrael a declaration - "the acceptance of the yoke of Heaven." In a world of idols and paganism, this declaration is what sets the Jewish people apart from the rest of the nations of the time.
In our world devoid of actual paganism but without faith and moral direction this declaration again stands as the line of separation between the Jew and the general society. The recitation of Shema Yisrael regularly, twice daily, over and over again, carefully and lovingly with correct pronunciation, serves to reemphasize to us God’s presence in our lives and in our world. It serves to remind us that we are not necessarily the free agents in life that we often think that we are.
Shema Yisrael inhibits our thoughts and behavior even if just for the moment. It focuses our hearts and minds on the good and noble that lies within each one to achieve and accomplish. And perhaps just as importantly it serves to unite us with all of the past generations of Jews, all of the way back to our father Yaakov and his children, to the origins of Shema Yisrael itself. When we recite Shema Yisrael it is as if we are speaking directly to our father Yaakov, to Yisrael himself. There can be no greater comforting thought for us on this Shabat of consolation than this reality of the bond of Jewish life over all of these centuries.
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.
