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Beit Midrash
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Gemara: When Shlomo built the Beit Hamikdash, they wanted to bring the ark into the Holy of Holies, but the gates stuck to each other. Shlomo recited 24 songs of praise and was not answered. He then began to say, "Gates, raise your heads …" (Tehillim 24) and was not answered. When he said: "Hashem, the Lord, do not turn aside the face of your anointed one. Remember the righteousness of Your servant David" (Divrei Hayamim II:6:42), he was immediately answered.
[In previous pieces, Rav Kook explained that the Beit Hamikdash relates to an emotional connection to Hashem and the ark, which holds the Tablets/Torah, relates to the intellectual connection. We skip over the explanation of the initial failure to get the gates opened and discuss his explanation of the success.]
Ein Ayah: The internal connection between the emotion of a pure heart, which is connected to prayer and service of Hashem, and intellect, which stems from Hashem’s Torah can be found in the connection between the standing of Israel in every generation and its standing in the ideal and eternal future era.
Emotion is found in the love that good people have for their nation, and it grows when the nation is full of good, holy traits. Therefore, the strong love that should connect every Jew to the Assemblage of Israel should be strong enough to raise him to a high level of piety. Tikunei Zohar explains the Zohar (Mishpatim 114:2) as saying that one is pious if he makes the connection between the Divine Presence and the Nation of Israel.
This feeling is elevated into the status of proper intellect if one sees how the love of the nation at the present time will turn into the loftiest eternal light, which makes us fit to be a unique nation forever. In order to connect this sanctity of present and future, one needs the secrets of Torah and avoda (service of Hashem).
In this regard, there is importance to the spiritual attainments accomplished in these times in a hidden manner, in which it appears that many individuals reach nice levels by being inspired by the Torah of Israel. Every uttering that Hashem made was broken up into 70 languages. However, this is only part of the story. One cannot reach the proper level of understanding of Hashem without appreciating the level of Israel as the nation that Hashem chose to be an eternal nation. One who sees it otherwise has a weak recognition that is no more than a preparatory recognition of the truth. Remembering the level of Israel in every generation spawns positive thought about the future avoda in theBeit Hamikdash, and it helps the intellectual light of the Torah embrace all times and situations. These are the circumstances under which the ark with the light of the Torah can enter the Holy of Holies, after the gates open to allow it.
David represents the power of the Kingdom of Israel throughout eternity. Even when he sinned, the promise that the kingdom would remain in his family was intact. This remains an eternal foundation, whose full light will shine in the End of Days. The different forces will then join under one flag and with one language. David strove to be a vehicle for the highest level of world connection to Hashem in the future. However, this relates not only the future by itself but also that which it will draw from the past. This makes David’s kingdom in the past/present relevant in this regard, connecting David’s own reign with the future kingdom that will bear his name. That is why Shlomo asked not to turn aside the face of His anointed one. The task of the emotion that loves the success of our nation, which is an outgrowth of the fulfillment of the Torah, is a preparation for the lofty eternal goal of preparing for future glory. When Shlomo connected the two [by mentioning his father], it was fit for the ark to enter the Holy of Holies
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.
