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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Three Weeks
- The 17th of Tamuz
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
Yet, perhaps it would be better during times of joy, in the midst of our elation, to pause for a moment, to stop our dancing for a short time, to reflect, and to ask ourselves what we are so happy about.
Jewish celebration is mixed with sorrow. It is not a mere release; it is rational and profound celebration. Depravity and frivolity do not reflect true joy and heartfelt thanks. In the same manner that we need air to breathe, we also need to set aside a number of days a year for serious reflection and gravity, days of introspection and preparation for what lies ahead.
Let us briefly consider the Seventeenth of Tammuz. Have the walls of Jerusalem which were breached on this day been rebuilt? True, as Zechariah the Prophet says, "Jerusalem shall be inhabited like unwalled towns," and this befits her even more than walls, for walls represent fear of enemy and war, yet we are in need of Jerusalem’s walls because of their sanctity: to eat the Passover lamb and burnt offerings within them. For this reason we need a Holy Temple, the priesthood, "Urim VeTumim," a Sanhedrin, royalty, and prophecy; without these ingredients we lack the ability to sanctify the walls of Jerusalem.
Where are all of these elements though?
Were we to eat and drink on the day whereupon the walls of Jerusalem were breached we would make a mockery of all of our exalted aspirations and objectives. These things, after all, are largely dependent upon us: our ability to penetrate hearts, affect spiritual growth, remove partitions, and demonstrate unwavering faith and great spirit. We have seen with our own eyes how the redemption consists at once of human action and Divine assistance.
On the Seventeenth of Tammuz the daily Tamid offering was discontinued. Has the Tamid been restored?! On this day the Torah was burned. Does the Torah not continue to be burned by the nations, and, to our great disgrace, by our own dear brothers in the redeemed and liberated land of Israel? On this day, the Tablets were broken. Have the Golden Calf and its worshippers vanished from our midst? On this day, an idol was erected in the Sanctuary. The same idol, in a reincarnated form and boasting a golden dome, continues to stand today upon the ruins of our Sanctuary, and negotiations are underway to expropriate the entire area and give it to the "foxes that walk thereupon." And we, for ourselves, stand impure and removed; our eyes bear witness to all of these things and our sight grows dim. Woe are we that we find ourselves in this disgraceful and humiliating state: we do not even sense the insult and the suffering of the Divine Presence, and our stomach longs for delights. How is it that our heart is not horrified? How is it that our blood does not boil when we see the nation and its leaders displaying such exilic defeatism with regard to our sacred and liberated borders? How is it that instead of mourning over this we remain complacent and indifferent?!
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Biblical verses in this article were taken from The Jerusalem Bible (Koren).
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.
