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Beit Midrash
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We define a song by rimes or reading text with music. "Az Yashir" has no rimes and although its read in Shul with a special tune, the "Te'amim" are like the rest of the Torah. Why then "Az Yashir" is a song or poetry, or maybe we should ask what is a poetry?
The main difference between "Az Yashir" and the rest of the Torah is the way it's written. Most of the Torah verses are written in sequence, without spaces between words. However, in "Az Yashir" there are large spaces between words, and the combination of the number of words in each group and the space between the group reminds a brick wall. Ha'azinu's structure is different, but the principle of the spaces remains - the text is written in two columns, with a blank space in between.
Do these spaces define poetry? Does the blank sheet between the words give them a different meaning?
Rabbi Yehuda Halevi (11th century) was a well-known poet. Although he wrote classical poetry, in his book "Kuzari", he writes that good poetry isn’t characterized by beautiful words or rimes, but by conveying an idea beyond the words. Those who read good poetry should feel as if they can see poet and what he saw.
When Am Yisrael crossed the Red Sea, they reached a high spiritual level, somting that can not be described in words. "Az Yashir" comes from this high experience with an attempt to convey this to the reader. Because words can not contain the virtue of that great experience, it's written between the lines, in the spaces between words.
When we read "sAz Yashir" every day, and especially when read from the Torah in Parashat Beshalach, we should listen to the gaps, to the silence of the Cantor between verses, hear the idea that can not be expressed in words.
In the silence, everyone can try to hear the voices of the Red Sea and in the blank spaces to imagine how it was, as if he is standing there and can see it all in his eyes. If we try to live the song, the white spaces might be filled with lights of prophecy
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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.
