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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: Prayer should always be connected to the attempt to bring good deeds into practice. This is all the more so in regard to spiritual matters of the highest and most sacred degree. Therefore, the attempt to return the hearts of Jewish sinners to their Father in Heaven should be included in the personal moral agenda of every individual Jew. Therefore, it is proper that our prayers mark the desire within every Jew to see all the sinners within our nation return to belief in the G-d of Israel.
The matter is different in regard to our concern for the sins of members of the nations of the world. It is true that our ultimate goal is that all human beings will recognize the honor of Hashem. However, in practice we have no obligation to involve ourselves in their religious affairs. Our obligation is to strengthen the Torah and fear of Hashem within our own nation. It is Hashem’s secret how He will improve the world’s connection with Him and bring light to the world when the darkness comes to an end. Therefore the hope for universal service of Hashem has no place in our set prayers upon seeing a place from which idolatry has been uprooted.
It is true that we discuss our desire for universal service of Hashem within the Aleinu prayer and during the services of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. However, this is only at specific intervals, so that we recall what our general hope includes. In contrast, blessings that are required when certain circumstances arise are not just related to the religious goals of the future but to the practical ones of the present. Praying for gentiles’ removal of idolatry whenever one sees the removal of idol worship might mislead one to think that we are obligated in this as well. Therefore, the first opinion says to omit this element from the blessing.
Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar agrees that we do not have a practical obligation to influence gentiles. However, it is clear that the faster our salvation comes and our prominence in the eyes of the world increases, the faster the nations will recognize Hashem, as we will be the vehicle for this process. When we remind ourselves that the "conversion" of the nations of the world depends on our maximizing our potential, this will encourage us to redouble our efforts towards this end. By conversion we refer merely to the acceptance of the Kingdom of Hashem as finds expression through us, enabling the world to ‘speak in one language,’ as the prophet, Tzefanya, foretold. The nations’ spiritual unity, which is very important for their physical and spiritual success, depends on their ability to absorb the light of the Torah of Israel. If the nations would be able, in the future, to come to recognize Hashem through their own intellectual powers, they would not be able to join together ‘in one language,’ but this is not the case. The second opinion reasons that because our light will be needed for the whole world, we should include this fact in our ongoing prayers to improve ourselves so that we can improve the whole world through our internal state.
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.
