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Beit Midrash
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The basic purpose of the assignment of the cities was so there should be somewhere for the Levi’im to live. In some ways it would have made sense for them to receive cities (without the need for much agricultural land, as they were sustained by their brethren) close to Yerushalayim. However, there were reasons for them to be dispersed throughout the Land, as Yaakov had already foreseen (Bereishit 49:7). Rashi (ad loc.) cites one reason – the need to receive their share of ma’aser where the produce grew. After all, it was not feasible to bring a tenth of all the Land’s produce to Yerushalayim throughout the year.
There was an additional need to create a partnership between the Levi’im, whose main purpose was to be occupied with service of Hashem, Torah, and spirituality, and the rest of the nation, who were involved mainly in agriculture and other material professions. While part of their job was focused around the Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim, the element of teaching Torah (see Devarim 33:10 and Rambam, Shemitta V’yovel 13:12) made it important for them to be spread out among the nation, within reasonable range of all their brethren.
If integration was an important consideration, though, we could have hoped that the Levi’im would be found in each city, not in separate regional cities. However, in this matter, it seems that the model found in the encampment in the desert was preserved. There, the Levi’im were indeed all together in the section of the encampment that surrounded the Mishkan. While for the reasons we mentioned and/or others they were spread out, it was still important to maintain a situation of living among their own tribe. Indeed, in order to maintain their function of serving as Levi’im, it was proper for them to remain somewhat insular.
Arguably, people are generally more spiritually successful when they live among those of their own type. It is important for qualified spiritual leaders to be available to help even or especially those parts of the nation who have strong spiritual challenges. However, it requires a special person to live full-time among those who are quite different and still succeed in influencing rather than being influenced (This is the classic model of a rabbi of a community which is quite different from him). The Levi’im were allowed and expected to live as a tribe of their own in such a way that they would still have some impact on those around them. (This is along the more recent models of garin Torani or community kollel). Indeed, there are many ways to serve Hashem and in the process have a fruitful symbiotic relationship with others, with or without giving up the normal desire to remain with one’s tribe, literally or figuratively. One should know his strengths and weaknesses and act for the sake of Heaven.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
