YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah:The great man who is fit to serve as a pillar of his nation is, by his nature, a communal person. Therefore, when he impacts on those who are out of his inner circle, it should influence a very large group, so that he helps the whole nation take the actions that they should. In the realm of thoughts, too, his ideas will be sought by many because he is not able to limit himself to small groups. It is appropriate that one whose offspring would form a dynasty of kings of Israel would be particularly focused on the communal/national and would cast light on the glorious nation as a whole.
The going out of Yishai refers to influence on others, the entering refers to impact on actions, and the teaching refers to the sharing of ideas that connect him to the lot of the nation, its happiness, and spiritual flourishing. This is the "came with people" to which the pasuk refers.
However, there is a condition. Such an influential person should be "an elder who came with people." In other words, it is someone who already acquired much life experience and controls his various emotions. When youngsters, who still need to teach themselves morality, express opinions for the whole nation, this is potentially damaging. That is why "I will make youngsters your officers" (Yeshaya 3:4) is a curse. Only one with experience in addition to wisdom is fit to come among the masses and teach them.
The Requirements for a Holy Convocation
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 9:289)
Gemara:We have learned: There is no ochlusa [upon which one makes the beracha of "Baruch chacham harazim"] in Bavel. We have learned: There is no ochlusa of less than 600,000 people.
Ein Ayah:In order to have an element of klal (communal) on the highest level, there need to be all the elements that turn a community into a full nation. In the case of Hashem’s nation, a specific Land and number of people are needed to be a great and holy nation.
The Land must be special in its holiness, its historical value, and its physical characteristics for its inhabitants to form an ochlusa. In Bavel, where the Jews are in exile, under foreign rule, they cannot form a nation. Communal affairs do not take on a national characteristic. The grandeur that accompanies nationhood and makes it appropriate to bless on the harmony between complementary elements of the different thoughts of the mass of people is thus missing in Bavel.
Even if there is an assembly in the Land, if there are not enough people to create a national context, it is not an ochlusa, which demonstrates Hashem’s greatness. 600,000 is the number that was needed to create a nation when we came out of Egypt. The requirements for nationhood remain over the generations, as there is always a requirement that Hashem’s Name be called upon us. There must be enough opinions and subgroups for the national identity to exist. With less than that, we lack the unique status to stand up with scorn to all our opponents.
When the number is present in Eretz Yisrael, then the stature of the House of Jacob can grow and we will be fit to receive and carry out the Torah as a nation before 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
fast navigation
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.
