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I suggest that the central flaw in our spiritual system was machloket – divisions between the various segments of our nation that drove us apart from one another. We argued in the desert on the very first "Tisha B’Av" as to whether we should go forward & inhabit Israel; we fought each other in the days of both Temples.
This point is brought home in the famous story of Kamtza & Bar Kamtza in Gemara Gitin (fittingly, the very tractate that deals with the estrangement between partners!) describing an intractable feud between citizens of Jerusalem. It seems clear to me that both "Kamtza" & "Bar Kamtza" are not real names; they are pseudonyms built around the word "kametz" or "fist." The image of two Jews, raising their fists against one another, symbolizes the enmity & divisiveness that plagued us. Indeed, the root word of "machloket" is "chalek" or "chaluka," division.
What is the antidote to all this? Interestingly enough, it (like most antidotes) can be found within the disease itself. For Machloket’s root "chelek" has another meaning as well; it can mean "portion." When every person recognizes that each of us is but a "portion" of the whole, that we each have our own unique contribution to make to the collective, then we stop fighting one another. For we understand that, in reality, we are only hurting ourselves! And just as a person would not get angry at one part or another of his body & injure it, so we, too, will avoid injuring any member of our own body politic.
War is Hell, & creates in its terrible wake immense grief, suffering & depression. But our current war against Hamas has also brought our nation & our people infinitely closer to one another. The "divisions" seem to melt away as we all do our "portion" to support the soldiers, comfort the bereaved, heal the wounded. Differences between us are now seen for the pettiness they really are, & we become united through our joint struggle to overcome this latest challenge in our long march to Redemption.
Tisha B’Av is unique in that it has the dual quality of a somber fast day as well as a future mo’ed, a festive day. That day will come when we all embrace one another, which will inspire Divine acceptance of the pasuk: "Ki Chelek Hashem – Amo; the ‘portion’ of Hashem is His People."
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.