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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Masei
However, there are times when, as we say, "Ayn ha-kra yotzei miday p’shutu" – the verse’s "superficial" meaning cannot & should not be disregarded. That is, its plain, unadulterated meaning tells it like it is.
Perhaps the perfect example of this is found in our sedra of Masey. Just before the Torah delineates the borders of Eretz Yisrael, Hashem warns us in no uncertain terms:
"When you enter the Land of Canaan, you shall drive out the inhabitants from before you, destroying & demolishing all their idolatrous places. You shall inherit the Land, you shall possess it & dwell in it, for I have given it to you as an inheritance."
"But if you do NOT expel those who are living in the Land, then those who are left there shall be ‘pins in your eyes’ & ‘thorns in your sides.’ They will harass & terrorize (‘tzar’ru’) you in your Land. And it will be that whatever I had meant to do to them, I shall do to you."
For many, many years, the initial inability of Joshua to drive out foreign inhabitants from Israel plagued us. Wars against "locals" were frequent & often furious. The P’lishtim (Palestinians?) living in Gaza were among our most dastardly & determined enemies (see the story of Samson & various episodes throughout Tanach as examples) who continually conducted hit-and-run attacks against us.
And now, today, so many centuries after Hashem made His declaration, the dire prophecy once again rings true. The "pins & thorns" have developed into rockets & missiles, and the threat is more deadly than it ever was before. G-d’s chilling rebuke, "That which I meant to do to
them, I will do to you," is ringing in our ears. It suggests that, G-d forbid, if we do not drive these people out, then WE are the ones who will be driven out. In plain language: It is Us, or Them.
The fight we fight is not only moral & just, self-defensive & necessary for our survival. It is also G-d’s will. May He grant Israel security & our courageous chayalim success in their holy mission.
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.
