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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
[This is a condensation of a very long and complicated piece/]
Ein Ayah:The outcome of every good deed should be seen as something eternal. For one with a strong sense of community, there is automatically eternity, for the communal always exists, as it says, "A generation goes and a generation comes" (Kohelet 1:4). Therefore, there is already a basis for a complete divine reward system, for fulfillment of mitzvot has a positive effect on the eternal state of the collective.
It is known that justice regarding the individual is a foundation of justice for the communal as well. There can be guaranteed reward for the individual only if the soul remains after death to take part in the after-life and resurrection of the dead. When people’s philosophies were strong, there was no need to put a stress on that. This is preferable because considering the after-life requires abstract conceptions, which frustrates those who cannot handle them. It is enough for one to sense clearly the impact on the collective, and he will intuit that the individual who is a building block of the collective must somehow continue to benefit from his good deeds in a world that is all good. A person will see that in this world, one needs to be connected to the collective in order to see justice, and one who is connected will appreciate it. He will also understand that when there will be a different type of life, justice will continue in an appropriate way. He will be confident in justice for the individual because such justice is a basis for justice of the collective.
However, when the proper philosophies were challenged and the centrality of the collective was weakened, people became incited to doubt whether there is a moral value to life on the level of the individual. A need thus developed to stress that there are two worlds, which relate to justice in different ways. This world brings justice for the collective and the world-to-come provides justice for the individual.
This became even more important during the period of exile, when collective life lost its luster and even the justice of the collective was harder to sense. Then belief in the ultimate reward in the next world for the individual strengthens confidence about the success of the nation.
In general, people have an emotional nature and an intellectual nature. When things are working properly, one will naturally be drawn to do the right thing even without making a calculation as to the reward he will receive, as the pasuk says, "The purity of the straight person will lead him" (Mishlei 11:3). However, there must be an intellectual element as well, which tells him that there is a just reward for those good deeds as well. Once there is an answer to the question of the reward for good deeds, then it is praiseworthy for one to act properly based on the emotion without giving much thought to the intellectual. However, when people deteriorated to the point that they did not take encouragement from that which happens in this world, it became necessary to put a stress on the world-to-come, as found expression in the addition of "min haolam v’ad haolam" to the end of berachot. This taught people that there is good that comes from a close connection with Hashem.
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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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.
