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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Miketz
There are dreams that are private, personal, and many times impossible to share with others. However, sometimes there are dreams that are so transcendent and affect generations and nations that they must be shared with others. Yosef's dreams are of this very nature. The brothers misinterpreted Yosef's words as being an attempt to rule over them and control them. The dreams however truly implied that Yosef would save Yaakov and his family in a time of hunger and crisis.
Yosef wished that his dreams would be shared by his brothers as well. The brothers, who saw those dreams as being malevolent, did not want any part in their fulfillment or accomplishment. On the other hand, Yaakov does share in Yosef's dreams and though he reprimands Yosef for his attitude towards his brothers, he guards the message of the dreams and is somehow certain that they will be fulfilled.
Someone who does not share in the dream will find it difficult to identify with the dreamer or even to recognize affinity with him. Yosef who wishes his dreams to be their dreams immediately recognizes his brothers. The brothers, who as yet do not share Yosef's dreams, cannot really recognize him or identify with him.
The Jewish people over the ages have dreamt many dreams. Some of them were private dreams. As such, they did not really have a lasting effect. However, there were grand, national, and even universal dreams that were part of Jewish tradition and society. These dreams included the return to the Land of Israel, establishing a just and moral Jewish society based on Torah values, and a general commitment to further civilization and improve human society.
The test of the Jewish continuity and loyalty was whether the individual Jew shared in these great dreams. Those who did not eventually could no longer recognize their own brothers. Because of this, these Jews eventually became negative forces in Jewish society and in world society as well.
Jewish education over the ages not only taught Torah knowledge and Jewish tradition but it also implanted within the Jewish soul and mind the visions and dreams that are the lifeblood of Jewish survival. Many of the problems that exist in today's Jewish society, here in Israel, but especially in the diaspora, result from the fact that Jewish dreams are no longer shared by many Jews.
This explains much of the negativity and bitterness that is unfortunately present in the Jewish world. We need to see the dreamers as heroes and the visionaries as being the true leaders of our people. Yosef still lives with his dreams, his stubbornness, his hopes and his goodness. May we, his brothers, be wise enough to recognize him in our midst.
The Laws of Kashrut A Sweet Change of Pace
What beracha does one recite over chocolate-covered raisins?
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.
