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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
R. Avraham ben-tziyon ben shabtai
Our Sages relate that Rabbi Akiva didn't begin studying Torah until the age of forty. Up until then he hadn't touched a book. Yet, despite his advanced age, he set about studying with perfect faith that he would eventually succeed. With great self discipline and extreme patience he resigned himself to the task. Once, while standing by a brook he noticed a stone which had been worn away by the water. Considering this he said to himself: "If gently flowing water is capable of wearing a hole in a stone, then certainly the Torah which is tougher than iron is capable of penetrating my heart, mere flesh and blood." With the exception of two times a year, on the eve's of Passover and Yom Kippur, he was never heard to say "Let us take leave of the study hall." Because of his stubborn persistence, it was not long before he finally became the great Torah scholar we remember him as today: a respected mentor of twenty four thousand disciples.
And then, suddenly, tragedy struck. In a very short period of time a plague took the lives of all of his students. His entire Torah empire crumbled in an instant. His world, it seemed, had come to an end. What could be more disappointing? How does one recover from such a blow? Usually in times like these a person looses self-confidence, and begins to second question the worth of his efforts. Rabbi Akiva, though, didn't give in. He picked himself up and started all over again. He made a journey to the south where there remained some Torah scholars and began to teach them.
Rabbi Akiva yearned for the redemption of his people. When Bar-Kochba raised the banner of resistance to Roman imperialism in the Land of Israel, Rabbi Akiva joined him. The Rambam (Maimonides) testifies to the fact that "Rabbi Akiva, the great Mishnaic sage, acted as arms-bearer to King Bar-Kochba. He, together with the rest of the sages in his time, believed Bar-Kochba to be the messiah, until he was finally killed as a result of his sins." The realization that Bar Kochba was not the messiah, and the tragedy of the Betar massacre which accompanied it, were more disappointments for Rabbi Akiva. Yet, once again he remained optimistic. He continued to have faith, to hope and yearn for eventual salvation. Most important, he continued studying Torah. When eventually the wicked Roman Empire decreed that the Jewish People be forbidden to study Torah, Rabbi Akiva didn't hesitate defying the decree in public, and would gather large groups of people and fearlessly teach them Torah. In the end he was caught and put into prison. Later he was put to death, and in so doing sanctified G-d's name.
The very life of Rabbi Akiva itself was a sanctification of G-d's holy name. He was one of those rare individuals who managed to see the good in every hardship which befell him. He used to say: "Whatever G-d decrees is for the best." In fact, it was he who, upon seeing a fox coming out of the ruined Holy of Holies, exclaimed "whatever G-d decrees is for the best". While his companions cried out in mourning at the sight of the Temple in ruins, Rabbi Akiva laughed, for he already envisioned the future redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
In trying times the spirit of Rabbi Akiva illuminates the path of the Jewish People. His might and courage, his perfect faith that "this, too, is for the best", support and guide us. The strength of Rabbi Akiva lives on, helping us to overcome all weakness, to turn darkness into light, seeming defeat into triumphant victory.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
