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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- 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.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
