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Beit Midrash
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Concerning King Shlomo’s building of the Beit Hamikdash, we find a few parallels. Shlomo himself was from the Tribe of Yehuda. His partner, who provided much technical help in the fields of craftsmanship, hailed (to an extent, at least, as we will see) from the Tribe of Dan. Actually, Shlomo had communicated about the upcoming project of constructing the Beit Hamikdash with Churam (elsewhere called Chiram), the King of Tzor (Tyre), who was a friend of David. King Churam sent Shlomo an expert craftsman, a resident of Tzor, who was also called Churam, who he introduced as the son of a woman from Dan and of a man from Tzor (Divrei Hayamim II, 2:10-13).
One who looks at the parallel sections of the respective job descriptions in Shemot and Divrei Hayamim (which is onerous in this forum) will see the similarities between the texts. However, we will highlight a difference between the two projects that seems to have had a practical impact on the building of the Beit Hamikdash.
Moshe received direct and specific instructions from Hashem for the building of the Mishkan, and the Torah stresses that everything was to be done precisely as Hashem showed him (Shemot 25:9). Chazal taught that Hashem showed Moshe "images of fire" for each of the vessels that were to be created (Menachot 29a). The idea of bringing Betzalel and Aholiav onto the staff was also explicitly mandated by Hashem. In contrast, the choice of the craftsman Chiram was initiated by the non-Jewish king, Chiram.
Even though the former was halachically Jewish, as his mother was Jewish, it is hard to ignore that apparently his father was non-Jewish and his name was that of gentile Tzorite. It is very likely that Chiram learned his architectural profession in the academies of Tzor and thus he was culturally and artistically influenced by that society of idol worship. Later on, in the periods of the kings of Israel, the Tzorian influence entered Israel, culminating in the Tzorian princesses who married kings of Judea and Israel. These influences wreaked spiritual havoc on the Jewish people, which eventually led to a destruction of the Beit Hamikdash itself.
Art and aesthetics of the physical world have a lot to add in uplifting people’s spirits. On the other hand, we should remember that they are always liable to cause spiritual deterioration and draw people to materialism. The Mishkan built by Moshe with the help of the G-d-fearing Betzalel and Aholiav, was a symbol for generations of how artistic work in the physical world can become part of the spiritual world. May we merit to learn from this positive example.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
