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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Family and Society
- Redemption - Geula
- Chevlei Mashiah
The Amora Shmuel said: "There is nothing between this world and the days of Mashiach but the enslavement to the kingdoms" (Berachot 34b). The Rambam (Commentary on the Mishna, introduction to the lastperek of Sanhedrin) accepts this approach. Any reasonable person will understand that one cannot have a Kingdom of Israel without assembling a military force, which is also needed to stop the subjugation of other forces and protect the people at the time ofMashiach. Since the nations will still be interested in destroying us, we will have no choice but to use this force.
This idea is all the clearer when looking at the way the Rambam comments on Bilam’s final prophecy (Bamidbar 24:14-19). "… I will advise you what this nation [Israel] will do to your nation at the end of days. … a tribe in Israel will arise and destroy the leaders of Moav and penetrate the Children of Seth. Edom will be conquered …" The Rambam (Melachim 11:1) explains as follows: "The King Mashiach will arise and return the Kingdom of David to its former Kingdom and build the Mikdash and gather the scattered of Israel, and all matters of justice will return to their previous state… these are all matters that are stated explicitly by the Torah and include everything that the Prophets wrote. These things were even mentioned in the section on Bilam, in which he prophesied about two Mashiachs. One is the first Mashiach, i.e., David, who saved Israel from their enemies, and there is also a last Mashiach, who will emanate from [David’s] offspring and will save Israel from the sons of Eisav." The Rambam continues by going through the parallel sections of the poetic description of the future events from our parasha. The first segment of each pasuk refers to David, and the second segment refers to the future Mashiach, pasuk after pasuk.
According to this, Mashiach is the "twin" of David. Thus, just as David assembled an army and took part successfully in battle, so too will Mashiach, even though we are told that it will be Mashiach who builds the final Beit Hamikdash. There is no contradiction between having an army and building a Beit Hamikdash. Thus, David could have been able to build the Mikdash despite his battles. At some future day, we will explain the p’sukim in Divrei Hayamim (I:22:8) that seem to say that it was the blood that David spilled that disqualified him.
Today as well, Hesder students combine the study of Torah with significant service in the IDF. They are, in that way, like the warriors of David, who sanctify Hashem’s name by taking part in Israel’s wars. May they and the rest of us merit seeing the building of the Beit Hamikdash.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
