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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
When the rains stop & the waters abate, it is time for Noach to step out & encounter a Brave New World. But Noach is reluctant; he must actually be commanded by G-d to leave the ship; only then does he venture forth.
Significantly, the Torah uses the name Elokim here ("Vay’daber Elokim el Noach: Tzay min haTeyva!") rather than "Hashem." Elokim denotes strictness, indicating that G-d had to forcefully "evict" Noach from his place of residence, & that He was somewhat perturbed that Noach did not want to exit the Ark of his own volition.
But we can fully sympathize with Noach’s mind-set. The world he had known is now gone forever; it has become a global "ghost-town," no doubt littered with corpses & rubble everywhere. Where will he go; how will he start over? Is it any wonder that he immediately turns to drink, trying to drown out his despair & depression?
Noach prefers to stay inside the Teyva. There, despite the squawking & baying & barking of the four-legged passengers, Noach is safe. He has his family, he has his memories, he has his work with the animals to keep him occupied. Why leave that sanctuary to enter the unknown; why must HE be the one to repopulate Earth?
Noach’s feelings are genuine, human, understandable emotions. We should be sympathetic to Noach, for we would probably feel exactly the same way. Starting over – particularly after experiencing a tragedy – is traumatic & terrifying. But Hashem commands it, & so. like it or not, we must go.
Is this not the pattern of our own lives? We are nurtured by our parents in our own little "Ark" – perhaps even with a pet or two! – but then we must grow up & go out. We attend Yeshiva, or university or kollel, & wish we could spend our whole lives there. But G-d has other ideas; He wants us to face the world - & hopefully change its face for the better.
Is this not also the microcosm of our entire national history? Were we not forced to rebuild our ravaged communities? Did we not see our worlds destroyed, & then be told we must begin again? That we have done, for so long, with amazing success. Let us hope that the Ark has now finally come to rest, here at home, in Eretz Yisrael.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
