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Asher Ben Haim
One can base a solution to these problems on the Netziv’s approach to the 120 years. The Netziv says that there was not an immediate decree with a time-delay and a chance for amends. Rather, Hashem identified the beginning of a process, which would bring deterioration throughout society, which would, within 120 years, justify mankind’s destruction. The compromising of the family unit, where a powerful man can decide unilaterally who his wife or wives would be, whether or not they were married, and how he would treat them, leaves society without the ability to bring up the next generation reasonably. That’s how the next generation went from being "men of name" to "the brave" (pasuk 4). Power, they maintained; moral standing, they lost.
But it still doesn’t seem fair. If the moral shortcomings of the leaders were so directly responsible for everyone’s deterioration, to the extent that the Torah declares so clearly what will happen, then why should everyone be so severely punished?
In contemporary society, we are experts at uncovering the corruption of our leaders. Our newspapers tell how this one received from that one and gave to yet another one in exchange for what. Very often, they may be right. But the average citizen sits at home and says, "How terrible? How can they do that?" However, one can ask the average citizen: "What would you do if you had the power? Not some of the same things? How do you act within your own limited sphere of influence? Do you never do similar things, which are just too localized to interest the media or spur an investigation?"
That was apparently the situation in the pre-flood world. The atmosphere in society as a whole was one of grabbing for oneself as much as possible. In the case of the powerful, the situation allowed major offenses already in the earlier generations. For the rest of society, matters deteriorated over time until moral anarchy ruled. For this, they were all responsible.
Everyone can look at the corruption of the powerful and have it serve as a mirror to search out his own little abuses. The more people do this, the healthier our present and future society will be.
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
