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Beit Midrash
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Gemara: When the Greeks entered the heichal (Beit Hamikdash), they defiled all the oils in the heichal.
Ein Ayah: Chazal already highlighted the viewpoint of Israel on the wisdom, culture, and practices of the nations of the world. In comparing apparently contradictory criticism of the Israelites regarding following the practices of the other nations or not following them (Yechezkel 11:12 & 5:7), the gemara (Sanhedrin 39b) explains: "Like their proper practices you did not do; like their corrupt ones you did." [In other words, there are some practices we should follow.] However, even when following the nations’ good practices, one must exercise caution, as it can cause one to be drawn to their corrupt practices as well.
The reliable principle that Israel should cling to in this regard is to be very vigilant, when occasionally seeing a good practice which they want to adopt, to not allow the overall spirit of the source nation in along with the practice. For once that spirit enters, there may be no stopping its progress, and the spirit of Israel will be pushed away from its place. This would be against the instruction that "no foreigner shall sit on his throne," as the spirit of Israel must be strong and set. Rather, Torah and mitzvot must be the strength of Israel.
In an external manner, there is sometimes a need to improve society by taking a good practice from our neighbor nations. As long as our nation is firmly keeping Hashem’s Torah, adoption of such a practice does not mean that nation has encroached upon our borders. Rather, it is either that we go to take something from them or they bring to us something fitting to receive. This is as Chazal (Yoma 10a) learn about our relationship with Yefet – the yafyufit (attractive elements) of Yefet shall be found in the tents of Shem.
The spirit of Greece infiltrated into the sanctity of Israel and their warped values created new desires that entered into people’s inner lives. This created a situation that can be described as their entering the heichal and defiling all its oils. It is not only in areas in which Greek culture opposed ours that their negative impact was felt. Rather it affected Israel’s whole set of beliefs and characteristics, thereby lowering the sanctity and preventing goodness from Hashem’s nation.
It is important that we should have a firm pillar that teaches us in our time of exile to know how to interact with the non-Jewish nations and deal with their wisdom and practices. This teaching should help preserve the "Temple" within our lives and midst. We should not think that if there are just certain specific areas of integration of non-Jewish culture that the impact will be limited in scope to those areas, although that too would be enough reason to stay away from them.
Unfortunately, those with weak ideas think we can be comforted by that which remains intact and the many elements of light which will give strength despite the points of contamination which entered deeply within us. Therefore, the Rabbis taught us that as soon as the Greeks (i.e., their cultural spirit) entered the heichal, (i.e., deep into our spiritual/intellectual Torah lives), they already defiled all the oils within the heichal. No corner survived, as their spirit spread like the venom of a snake through the body of the nation. They ruined the belief and the purity. All the "holy anointing oil of Torah," which sanctifies and lights dark places that arise in all situations, were all affected. Even if individual acts of Torah remain despite the foreign regime, they will be performed by rote by those who were seduced by the foreign spirit. Generally only secondary elements survive, and this "impure oil" did not have the power to light the holy lights.
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.
