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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Shavuot
- Preperation for Shavuot
There are, though, many post-Talmudic special minhagim (reading Ruth, eating dairy, displaying greenery,…), some of which also raise interesting and unique halachic situations. Regarding most of these minhagim, the rationale is shrouded in secrecy, allowing several speculations. Perhaps this is part of the nature of the holiday – hidden matters. After all, its date is not written, allowing it to be the basis of a major dispute with the Tzedukim. In theory, i.e., when the month is set based on moon sightings, it can fall on different dates. Even Hashem’s revelation at Sinai to give the Torah is not dated or connected in Tanach to Shavuot.
Another Shavuot topic that is shrouded in mystery is related to the Torah reading. This is the piyut (liturgical poem) known, by its opening word, as Akdamot (meaning, an introduction). It is ostensibly written by someone named Meir, the son of Yitzchak, Shaliach Tzibbur (usually referring to a chazan, but literally means the agent of the community). He seems to have been a contemporary of Rashi and lived in Worms. (Some legends link the author to a miraculous event that occurred hundreds of years earlier.) While poetry of Ashkenaz in that era was often hard to understand, this is much harder, as it is written in a somewhat unfamiliar dialect of Aramaic (many who read gemara and Unkelus fluently have a lot of trouble understanding it).
Akdamot’s basic content is as follows. The first part is praise of Hashem, who created the world, and of the angels, who serve Him. Then, it retells the argument between Bnei Yisrael and the nations, explaining why it is appropriate for us to be given the Torah and worthwhile for us to keep our commitments. The last of 45 double stanzas is perhaps most memorable: "Exalted is our Lord in the beginning and the end; He desired and wanted us and gave us the Torah." (Learn more in Rav Maimon’s "Chagim U’Moadim.)
Akdamot has survived well after the majority of piyutim (yotzrot, ofanim, …) have primarily disappeared from our lives and are relegated to the back of a few complete siddurim. While Akdamot has survived, it has been scaled back. The original minhag was to recite it after reading the first pasuk; now, to avoid serious questions of hefsek, most recite it before the kohen’s opening beracha. Apparently, Akdamot’s was destined to survive and remain part of the lore of the day. We have a deep and mysterious relationship with Hashem that we do not fully understand. It is part and parcel of the reason we were given and continue to dedicate ourselves to His Torah. Even though so many stay up all night and so few have strength/enthusiasm for the morning tefilla and Torah reading, we will hopefully continue to read Akdamut (with its simple but special tune). In so doing, we will reinforce the idea that our clinging to the Creator from that momentous day at Sinai is worth singing about with recognition that we cherish everything, even if we only understand some of it.
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.
