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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Shmini
Parashat Shemini describes what could be considered the first day of the operations of the Mishkan, "the eighth day," following the seven days of miluim in which Moshe had been serving as the kohen. After Aharon offered several korbanot, the Torah writes: "Moshe and Aharon entered the Tent of Convocation, and they exited and blessed the people, and Hashem’s glory (k’vod Hashem) appeared before the entire nation. Fire came out from before Hashem and consumed on the altar the burnt offering and the fat …" (Vayikra 9:23-24).
What is "Hashem’s glory" that the fortunate people of that time merited experiencing? Prof. Nechama Leibowitz develops various possibilities by comparing this portion to the first time in the Torah the phrase comes up – in Parashat Beshalach in the context of the manna that fell for the first time in the desert. There the phrase actually comes up twice – once as a promise that the people would see Hashem’s glory in the morning, the time the manna fell (Shemot 16:7). It appears again when the people looked to the desert and "alas, Hashem’s glory was seen in the cloud" (ibid. 10). Rashi and the Ramban (ad loc.) both say that these same words refer to different phenomena. The former is that the great miracle of the falling of the manna, a unique creation, was a miracle that illustrated that Hashem was with the nation. The second was a manifestation of the Divine Presence. Where does our pasuk’s glory of Hashem fit into things?
The Rashbam connects our two p’sukim with Beshalach and says that the fire coming out of the heaven to consume the offerings was a unique miracle that showed the people that Hashem was with them. Thus, Hashem’s glory was the miracle. The Ramban (Bereishit 18:1) says that Hashem’s glory in our parasha is the ostensibly unnecessary appearance of the Divine Presence. Usually, Hashem appears to a holy person to communicate with him. However, when the Divine Presence appears just to reward a person or the nation with a sign of His presence without further communication, this is called Hashem’s glory. According to this, the Divine Presence was a palpable revelation of Hashem, whereas the consuming of the offerings was a miracle that showed that Hashem "appreciated" and accepted them.
The Ramban is consistent with his approach to the main point of the Mishkan/Beit Hamikdash. The Rambam (Sefer Hamitzvot, Aseh 20) says that the main idea is to provide a house for our service of Hashem. The Ramban (beginning of Parashat Teruma) develops the idea that the essence of the Mikdash is as a place where the Divine Presence dwells (see development in Minchat Asher, Vayikra 48). Thus, according to the Ramban, the sign of the success of the Mishkan, for which Moshe and the people had anxiously awaited (see Rashi, Vayikra 10:23), was the appearance of Hashem’s glory. The additional miracle of the consuming fire was a one-time extra. The other approach, which we can attribute to the Rashbam and Rambam (each from a different part of the equation) is that the raison d’etre of the Mishkan was to have sacrifices that evoked Divine acceptance. Thus, the fire that consumed the korbanot was the miracle that engendered Hashem’s glory.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
