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Ein Ayah: The contamination of the oil represents the harming of the characteristics and philosophies, the most extreme calamity that affected the essence of the Jewish nation, which befell it when the Greeks ruled. The Greeks weakened the belief in such basics as the unity of Hashem. However, just as a kohen’s status indicates that he is to teach the laws of the Torah and sanctity to the nation, so too every Jew has an element of kehuna within him, as a member of the "kingdom of priests." The inclination for a life of sanctity, Torah knowledge, and its fulfillment is hidden in the depths of the Jewish heart. We have explained that the idea behind the owner eating ma’aser sheni in holy surroundings is the idea of inspiring every Jew to find his soul’s priestly element.
The element of kehuna that encompasses a Jew’s activities throughout life was susceptible to being defiled by the Greeks. However, deeper in the heart dwells the light of the Jewish soul, which connects to the basic belief in Hashem, the G-d of Israel, and the strong desire to cling to the vestiges of his religion despite all pressure. This sacred part of the Jewish soul is parallel to the Kohen Gadol’s entrance into the Holy of Holies to serve on the holy day on which we are separated from the physical world. That small flask with the Kohen Gadol’s seal was impervious to Greek impurity. In other words, the most powerful men could not uproot from Israel their inner connection to Hashem, as is written (Shir Hashirim 8:7): "Great waters could not extinguish the love, and rivers could not wash it away."
However, when the flask is small, i.e., when the belief is hidden well and does not exhibit its existence in regard to one’s practical life, it is difficult for it to survive. After all, life has gone in a direction that is contradictory to this belief. Thus, the flame could be extinguished under the pile of burnt out materials that prevent it from spreading. This is the wonder of the special concealed light. Even when it encounters a lifestyle and philosophies that are antithetical to it and the person is unaware of the light within him, it is not extinguished. Hashem will arrange a reawakening of the nation that He chose and the spark will lead a process that will uproot the foreign influences that threatened to choke and extinguish it. The growing flame will spread among the hearts of Bnei Yisrael and return them to their Father in Heaven. This will prevail until the powers of practical life, which already are following a Torah lifestyle, will revive Israel and return the people’s light until the present era ends and a new light will shine over Zion, through the geula shleima.
At the time of the great confusion caused by the Greeks, whose lifestyle spread throughout Eretz Yisrael, leaving just a spark deep in the hearts of Israel, the flask of oil characterized the situation. Indeed, there was oil that survived, pure with the kohen gadol’s seal. The question was whether that oil would be able to provide light, when it was not supported by enough other oil, i.e., proper Jewish lifestyles. Ostensibly the oil could only last for one day, i.e., for the direct period in which the reawakening had occurred. Without a connection to practical observance, it would certainly die down. However, there was a miracle, and the light of belief in Hashem did not leave His people. Even without preparation for strong observance, it lasted for eight days. This hints at the long period until that future day when knowledge of Hashem will fill the world like the waters cover the ocean bed (see Yeshaya 11:9)
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.
