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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Asher Ben Haim
Let us ask another "heretical" question. Could it be that Calev really went alone to Chevron? After all, he avoided things that would reveal his opposition to the meraglim until the last minute. There is room to suggest that the Torah and Chazal are hinting at something else. All of the meraglim came to Chevron, physically. But they experienced different things. The sinners saw fearful giants, who were reasons to refuse to enter the land. Calev, upon seeing physical giants walking on the land, turned his attention to the spiritual giants who were buried in the land. Rashi (Bereishit 23:2) tells us that Chevron was called Kiryat Arba (the City of Four) either after the four giants who lived there or the four couples who are buried there. It is not a contradiction, as both facts are true. But some people are sensitive to the significance of one fact while the other fact impresses others. Calev realized that it was due to the virtue of those buried in Chevron that Bnei Yisrael had been promised the Land and would be successful in capturing it despite the Land’s topography and the size of its inhabitants.
Perhaps Calev’s name hints at this capacity to perceive what is happening underground. The name, without vowels, can be read as kelev (dog). Whose nature is it to sniff out that which is covered up or under ground? The dog (see Pesachim 8a). While dogs search for things that smell, Calev searched ... and found ... encouragement and spiritual inspiration.
Now we can understand why Calev got the piece of land that he did. Others may not have been happy with a present of Chevron. There are obstacles there, whether they are ancient giants, rocky terrain, or the troubles we are experiencing in our times. But for people like Calev, who have a ruach acheret (Bamidbar 14:24), a different type of spirit, which enables them to appreciate that which others cannot, such a present can be fully appreciated and cherished.
The world is full of what some consider obstacles and others consider challenges. May we merit to use the sensitivity we received from "those who slumber in Chevron" to identify those goals which deserve our efforts to achieve and to have the courage to take on the worthwhile challenges and turn them into priceless, realized opportunities.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
