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The King of the Khazars himself asks the Rabbi, "Please explain to me how your religion arose. How did it spread and become accepted? How was a consensus reached concerning its components? There must initially have been conflicting opinions. After all, every religion begins either with a small group of individuals who gradually influence the masses through persuasive argument, or some powerful ruler who forces his faith upon his subjects. This being the case, how did the Jewish religion begin, and how did it spread to the point where it was accepted by the entire Jewish people?"
To this the rabbi responds that, indeed, religions which derive from man begin in such a manner. Religious systems which spring from the human mind begin with individuals and spreads to the masses. This, however, is not true of the Jewish faith, for it originated with God Himself. It came into existence suddenly, not unlike the creation of the world itself.
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
19 - 17. According to Divine Guidance
20 - 18. The Exodus and Jewish Faith
21 - 21. God's Elite Line
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Then, suddenly, the Almighty sent Moses and Aaron to deliver the people from bondage. Moses and Aaron possessed no militia to aid them in this task. Rather, they came in the name of God Himself, with signs and wonders which defied the laws of nature. Pharaoh, with all of his power, was unable to protect himself from the Ten Plagues which God brought upon Him and the people of Egypt. First, God plagued the water, then the land, the air, the vegetation, and the animals. Finally God beset the very bodies and souls of the Egyptians. In a single moment, at midnight, God struck down all of the firstborn of Egypt. There was no home in Egypt that was not struck.
Moreover, each of these plagues was preceded by a warning, and each one came at the precise time and in the exact place that Moses said it would. All testified that this was the "finger of God." All understood that it was not a quirk of nature but a real miracle.
On the very day that the firstborn of Egypt were killed, the Children of Israel left Egypt. They did this in fulfillment of God's command, hastily and in a single swift operation. In a miraculously short period of time, the plight of the Israelites was reversed completely; they were transformed from a band of despondent slaves to a free nation, and Pharaoh and his people were completely subdued by God's Ten Plagues. This is how the faith of Israel began. God delivered the Children of Israel from Egypt and made them His chosen nation. From that point onward, the Jewish people were God's people. Later, God performed many more miracles and wonders on their behalf. We shall, God willing, discuss this matter in the next lesson.
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.
