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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah:Creation is the doing of the One, Hashem. This causes us to know that all existence in the world is one creation, even though there are numerous specific elements of it. There are countless millions of physical worlds and endless spiritual entities, with all their different elements and circumstances. Yet all of them are connected in a manner that if we could see all the great light of all of existence, it would look to us like one great entity containing physicality and spirituality. This would be if the One Master wanted us to see all the light of creation as one great and complex torch, not as a multitude of scattered sparks.
However, since we do see the world as containing many detailed parts, we say: "How great are Your actions, Hashem" (Tehillim 104:24). When saying that, we realize the wonder of each of the individual creations, and yet we know that they are in fact connected like the many body parts that form one organism. It is like an incredible machine which has seemingly endless parts. Were we to fully view all the parts as connected into one entity, we would not talk about multiple actions or creations, but we would be all the more shocked by the greatness, contemplating that one creation encompasses all. That is why the gemara says that "the greatness" refers to creation.
When a person is able to amass knowledge of a great many things about creation and even be aware of the connection between different parts, he still will not be able to solve the many mysteries about the endless wisdom that is behind creation. The more he knows, the more he will be shocked and unable to fully fathom.
The reason for this is that the full solution to the understanding of creation is to fully understand the whole, as all is indeed one great entity. However, that prospect is beyond the capabilities of any person who can think and contemplate. Whenever we say (as in the aforementioned pasuk in Iyov) that He "does great things," we are focusing on parts of the general greatness and still we are shocked by the greatness, as it cannot be understood through investigation. We go from wonder to wonder, from recognition of one wise idea to another, and to yet higher levels.
The individual elements of creation, which start as scattered things, we view in the plural. However, they stay that way only until we look for their source. Just when we think we are able to solve some of the mysteries, even greater ones arise until we realize that we have not arrived at a complete understanding, and we need to be satisfied by the little we do fathom. That is why the pasuk says that the "great things" are up to the "point of investigation." The great things must be attached to matters of belief, as one should believe to the point of knowledge that greatness finds expression in the unfathomable creation.
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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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
