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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: [The simple understanding of the gemara is that walking outside a shul and not going in is a sign that he rejects the prayer going on, unless it appears that he does not go in because he is busy, or he shows allegiance to the ideals of Torah through tefillin. We will now see Rav Kook’s allegorical explanation.]
There are four categories of danger that a person has to be careful about. Three relate to him personally: physical damage, moral damage, and intellectual damage. The final one relates to possible danger to the community, and this critical danger must be avoided at all costs.
The lion hints at physical dangers, walking behind a woman hints at moral ones (immodest thoughts), and idol worship relates to intellectual deterioration, which can destroy every house to its foundation.
The matter of walking outside a shul is that one shows disdain for that which is holy in Israel even as he is in close proximity to Jews who are involved in service of Hashem. It destroys the foundations of the nation and that which is holy within it. We have, in our sins, many who fall into this latter category, and it causes great pain and loss in Israel as a nation when people separate themselves from the community and choose their own separate approaches. This causes hatred and animosity in Israel, harms our children’s fear of Hashem, and distorts matters.
While joining in with the community is important, there are exceptions to the rule. Sometimes a great man separates himself from the masses with proper intentions. This is hinted at by having a different entranceway, i.e., another way of getting to high levels of sanctity. He might not be able to pray with the community because his prayers take too long, because he spends all day on Torah study, or due to other important things. Under such circumstances, he cannot be considered one who separates himself from the community.
When referring to those who separate themselves from the ways of the community, we are referring only to the more severe offenders. After all, the gemara says that he is worse than one who follows idol worship. Such a person is likely to be so consumed with his physical desires that he separates himself from the community and its spiritual practices so that he can do that which his heart desires without inhibitions. However, if he is riding on top of a chamra (literally, a donkey, but a hint at the physicality of animalistic behavior), i.e., he is above the most offensive behavior. Then, even if he has mainly left the fold, there is hope he will return to the community.
The metaphor of carrying a load hints at one who is still involved in the needs of the community. While he seems to shun the community’s service of Hashem, he has a spark of sanctity and Jewish connection that can return to life when conditions are ripe; he is not totally lost. Certainly, if he is wearing tefillin, which contain the pasuk, "…so that the words of Hashem will be in your mouth," then he must have hope. If a person has even one of these, a mitzva will lead to another mitzva, and there is hope that he or his offspring will return. He is considered part of the nation, with all the privilege that this brings.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
