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Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- Current Events
- Understanding Circumstances
2. History
3. A Determined Stance
4. On Seder Night
THE INTIFADA
There are those who say that terrorism has increased in the Land of Israel because of the "settlers" of Yesha - who, it is claimed, ignited the "Intifada" by so-to-speak provoking the Arabs, by our very decision to settle in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
And I say: True! The settlers are guilty! There is no question that we had a part to play in all of this. If we had not decided to live in the expanses of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, it is very possible that the "Intifada" would not have broken out on such a great scale.
What prompted the terrorism that preceded the Six Day War? No doubt, it was the trials and tribulations of the Arabs who fled their homes in the wake of the1948 War of Independence. The establishment of the State caused the refugee problem and gave birth to terrorism! And before that, what caused the riots and attacks against Jews before the establishment of the state - at the outset of Jewish settlement in Eretz Yisrael? Yes, It was the Zionist Jewish settlement enterprise!
HISTORY
What brought about the European Holocaust? The threat of a Jewish takeover of the world political and economic system! And, centuries earlier, who caused the Spanish Inquisition? Jews, and their insistence on cleaving to their system of faith and belief in the face of Christianity!
There is no question about it: the existence of the nation of Israel throughout the generations has had an unsettling effect on the world, and has engendered much opposition. The unique path tread by the People of Israel is actually an irritant for many. From its very inception, the nation of Israel challenged idol-worshippers, standing in their way, preventing them from continuing on their immoral path. Israel, with its ethically-based Torah, with its commandments between man and his fellow man, threatened then, and today, the morally-corrupt approach of others. The Jewish People's high expectations of itself, its high moral standards, brought pressure to bear on others who chose to act unethically. Jealousy - even a deep hatred of the Jews - was often the response.
A DETERMINED STANCE
Despite all this, the nation of Israel refuses to give up on its mission; it continues to shine the light of its belief in the One God on the rest of the world. Our belief continues to set an example for others, both near and far. The anti-Semitic blood libels, the Inquisition, the Holocaust, riots and terrorism have not, and will not, silence the Jews.
There is also no doubt that the more the State of Israel expands and develops, strengthens and establishes itself, the more opposition to it will increase. But the Jewish state will continue onwards despite this pressure. We have a Divinely-mandated, crucial, universal task. The Jewish state has a historical role to play. The redemption of the nation of Israel is intertwined with the redemption of the world.
ON SEDER NIGHT
The belief I have described was solidified during the exodus from Egypt, on the Seder night. It was then that we truly became a nation. On the night of our departure from Egypt, we were born as God's nation, and from that day onwards, we have continued in this capacity. On this night, we say, "Not just one nation has arisen to annihilate us; in every generation the nations have tried to do so, and God has saved us from their hands..." On Seder night, fathers will teach their children of the Exodus - of the wondrous miracles that happened back then - and of the great history of our people. It is from the seder night that we will draw our strength to continue on our path, to progress, to build and to be built, to radiate God's light to the rest of the world.
"How happy are we; how goodly is our portion; how pleasant is our destiny; how beautiful is our inheritance."
Next year in the rebuilt city of Jerusalem!
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.
