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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Pkudei
The haftara of Pekudei (not read this year for two reasons) discusses the matter, in the words of Shlomo: "It was in the heart of my father, David, to build a house for Hashem, the G-d of Israel. Hashem said to my father David: ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you were good for having it in your heart. However, you will not build the house, but the son who will come out from your loins, he will build the house for My name.’ Hashem kept His word that He said, and I have succeeded my father, and I have sat on the seat of Israel, and I have built the house for the name of Hashem, the G-d of Israel" (Melachim I, 8:17-20 – these p’sukim have parallels in three other places in Tanach). David did not sleep at night as he waited to fulfill his part this life dream, as he describes so beautifully in Tehillim 132:3-5. It is not clear what the exact reason is, considering that David was praised for wanting to build the House.
In the third beracha of Birkat Hamazon, we ask Hashem to act with mercy toward: Israel, Yerushalayim, Zion, the place where the Divine Presence dwells, the monarchy of the House of David, and the great and holy House upon which Hashem’s name is called. According to this order, the House of David precedes the Beit Hamikdash, and this is the key to the solution of the riddle. Before there can be a Beit Hamikdash, there must be a proper kingdom in Israel. To have a permanent house, as opposed to a movable Mishkan, there must be a permanent monarchal dynasty. Both these critical elements are part of a holy selection, determining who will be sanctified to lead and where the relationship with Hashem will be focused.
Let us return to the order discussed in Birkat Hamazon. First Israel was chosen from among the nations. Then Yerushalayim was chosen from among the places as the eternal spiritual center. Then David was chosen as the founder of the eternal dynasty. Only then could he be involved in building the eternal Beit Hamikdash. However, there is no dynasty until the king is succeeded by his son, at which point the Beit Hamikdash can be built. David was rewarded for all the battles he fought on behalf of Bnei Yisrael and became the first in the chain of kings.
It is fascinating that no previous ruler had the distinction of giving over the political leadership to his son (the kohanim, descendants of Aharon, are leaders of a very different type). Moshe did not pass it on to his son, nor did Yehoshua. None of the shoftim did so, and the great leaders whom David knew, Shmuel and Shaul, also did not succeed in this.
One of the lessons for our times is that the path to the building of the Beit Hamikdash and promoting the eternal values of the nation requires a partnership that includes the political and military development of the Jewish State.
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.
