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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Gemara: If a human king makes a decree, it is questionable whether people will adhere to it, and even if they do, it is only in his lifetime. In contrast, Moshe Rabbeinu made several decrees and enactments, and they are intact for all time. Is it not correct that which Shlomo said: "I praise the dead, who already died" (Kohelet 4:2)?!
Ein Ayah: It is a big question whether the essence of human beings is on the rise or the decline. Careful consideration shows that there is a difference between that which transpires to mankind and people’s essence.
People’s essence has not improved at all over time, even though many external things have occurred that have advanced mankind by providing us with much intelligence based on experience and accumulated knowledge. Any wise person will realize that essence is the more important matter. Since regarding essence, the great people of the later generations are on a lower level to that of earlier generations, we conclude that earlier generations are overall on a higher level.
It is the Divine Providence that creates a distinction between leadership in regard to essence and in regard to matters of occurrences. Occurrences change, and therefore the rules of divine leadership that affect them change as well. Therefore, one cannot relate to the overarching rules as definite matters but rather doubtful ones that rely upon external things.
Matters of essence do not change. This applies to the sevenmitzvot given to gentiles according to their spiritual needs. Similarly, when Bnei Yisrael received a special essence along with their separation from the nations when they received the Torah, those laws of the Torah also do not change.
Kingdom relates to the elements of human existence that are related to changing occurrences. This leadership is expected to be fleeting along with the changing times to which it relates. That is why the gemara says that a king’s decrees are doubtfully fulfilled, and that since it relies upon external factors, it ends with his death.
The Torah of Moshe, which is built on the essence of Israel, has an independent eternal nature, like their essence itself. To facilitate this, Hashem chose to put in the earlier generations spiritual giants unparalleled in future generations who could pass on His unchanging word in the way necessary for eternal decrees. In that way, later generations are impacted by earlier generations, which makes the earlier generations greater. Hashem wanted for the Torah to be given in the first generation that the nation was granted its special essence and through the good agency of Moshe Rabbeinu. This would impact on all innate elements of our lives. This teaches us that matters of essence are greater than matters that rely upon occurrences.
Therefore, one should not be overly impressed with external matters for which the later generations have become proud. Rather, later generations should realize that they need to learn from the earlier ones. This is why Hashem had to make sure that the early generations had giants, starting with Moshe Rabbeinu and continuing with other prophets, who were so perfect in essence that they have not been replicated.
That is why the pasuk says that we are to praise the dead who have already died, because later generations indeed must look up to those who come from the past, especially Moshe Rabbeinu, the trustworthy shepherd, whose name will last for eternity. The Torah is called "the Torah of My servant Moshe" (Malachi 3:22), and this is what the gemara means by Moshe’s decrees and enactments. This teaches that the greatest level can come from early history, before all the great volume of occurrences and acquired experience began. This is different from what some people view as the elevation of the later generations who have, in external ways, grown from experience.
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.
