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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Laws of Shabbat
- Preparations for Shabbat, Entrance and Exit
Gemara: Rabbi Chanina says: A person is required to examine his clothes [for objects he might come to carry] on Friday evening as night falls. Rav Yosef said: This is a major halacha for Shabbat.
Ein Ayah: One of the foundations of the sanctity of Shabbat is to raise "external life" to a similar level to that of "internal life" with the help of the latter. This is important because the farther the distance between these two elements of a person’s life the worse his situation is and the farther he will be from the character that Hashem, Who desires his success, set for him.
Sanctity, rest, and refinement are special positive contributing factors of a person’s internal life when one engages in them with purity in a complete manner. These elements are apt to be very far from the external lives of those who have complicated their lives with all sorts of agendas that people entertain while forgetting that Hashem created them to be straight (see Kohelet 7:29).
Shabbat comes to deal with these issues. Its sanctity returns the power of the internal life, which was weakened by the opposing external life when the latter exists in a polluted form. Shabbat also has the ability to impact external life and make it much closer to the internal one, by providing it with an infusion of tranquility, sanctity, refinement, and charm.
Therefore, one should be careful to follow Shabbat properly even in regard to external elements of its observance. For this reason, the Rabbis forbade many things because of marit ayin (the appearance of impropriety) on Shabbat. Similarly, many matters of external behavior were regulated by the decrees of the prophets. For example, Yeshaya said: "You shall show it [Shabbat] respect" (Yeshaya 58:13), which teaches us that clothes for Shabbat should be nicer than those for weekday. In these matters, external honor and sanctity is more important than the internal essence so that they can impact, by providing a spirit of sanctity and calmness, on one’s external life, which is the part that requires the most improvement.
There are practices that are not essentially spiritual desecrations of Shabbat, but when they exist on a regular basis, they dull its sanctity. Because of Shabbat’s nature, it becomes necessary to be careful about such matters. Fundamentally, if one leaves an object in his clothing, it is not a full desecration of Shabbat, as carrying it into the street is done by means of mitasek (an act done without awareness of its ramifications), as Tosafot (Shabbat 11a) says. However, regarding the external element of the action, the intention of one’s heart does not create distinctions, and if one carries even without knowing that he is carrying, the sanctity of Shabbat is still defiled.
Therefore, one is to examine his clothes right before Shabbat to make sure that even the external nature of Shabbat will not be affected. Rav Yosef adds that this is a major halacha of Shabbat because it is part of a general effort to have the sanctity of Shabbat extend, from its lofty internal level, to a person’s external element. This is something that is great both in terms of quantity [of actions] and in terms of quality, which enhances Shabbat and protects its character. It enables one to reach the goal of bringing the sanctity of the external closer to that of the internal life of spiritual intellectuality and morality that a person, as one who was created in the image of Hashem, is capable of reaching.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
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.
