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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Shavuot
- Preperation for Shavuot
So how, then, did we prepare for Matan Torah, the most momentous moment of our history?
The Torah tells us we had 3 days to get ready – "Shloshet Y’Mai Hagbala" - & G-d gave us 3 things to do in advance of the Revelation: Sanctify ourselves, set boundaries & wash our clothing. Just what do these things mean?
I suggest the following: Step 1, sanctification, was to impress upon us that we are a holy People, an Am Kadosh, worthy of receiving G-d’s greatest gift to Mankind. Without a healthy, heightened sense of self-respect & self-image, we would not have the sufficient stature to accept the laws of the Torah with the confidence that, yes, we definitely can live up to this most challenging & ambitious way of life.
But we also had to set boundaries. That is, we had to understand that just because we were being "upgraded" to the holiest nation on Earth did not mean that we could go
anywhere or do anything. There are limits. We are not G-d. We can approach Him, but we cannot be Him! At the end of the day, we are still human beings – bound to our
mortal capabilities & bound to make mistakes along the way. We have amazing powers, but yesh g’vul - there is a limit as to what we can & may do with these powers.
And what about this rather strange directive to "wash our clothes?" Seems rather mundane, doesn't it?
While some suggest this meant we should immerse in a Mikva, I have two other thoughts. First, I think this means that, as recipients of the Torah, we should "look the part." Our clothes should be clean. We should look & act in a dignified manner. We should be polite, considerate, kind, mentschlach. We believe, literally, that Derech Eretz Kadma L’Torah; good manners & civility precede the Torah.
Another thought: We have an expression, "Don’t air your dirty laundry in public." Accent on the words "in public." In private, one should indeed "air" his laundry, i.e. reflect on his shortcomings, examine his deeds & resolve to improve himself. For it is only when we bravely face our faults that we can "come clean" before Hashem & do Teshuva. Then and only then we are fully ready to embrace the Torah.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
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.
