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Beit Midrash
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Ein Ayah: A person’s spirit is so weak and his animalistic imagination is so strong that just hearing something bad and lowly can be a catalyst to lower his spiritual purity. It can make him enslaved to impure situations and lower him from one low point to another. The only way to prevent this impact is to take on the evil that hearing threatens to impose upon him by reacting strongly with a fierce protest which emanates from the power of sanctity of the divine spirit that knows its proper place and value. However, as long as he allows the hearing to leave its mark through his silence, the power of imagination, which pushes to increase its impact even against the will of the one who received the stimulus, will eventually succeed. Then, the one who hears can reach the same level as the one who speaks, as the pasuk says that even the latter will fall into the pit deepened for the speaker.
Internal and External Afflictions
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 2:236)
Gemara: Rabbi Oshaya said: "Whoever dedicates himself to sin, a variety of physical ailments will afflict him, as the pasuk says: "Wounds are for one who gives of himself for evil" (Mishlei 20:30; ed. note – this is not the simplest reading of the pasuk, but it seems to be the way thegemara takes it in this context). Not only that, but he is punished withhadrokan (a certain gastronomical disease), as the pasuk continues: "… and plagues of the chambers of the abdomen." Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said: hadrokan is a sign of sin.
Ein Ayah: A destructive approach which robs a person of his splendor through lowliness harms a person and society in two ways. It lowers the level of society to the point that horrible symptoms of corruption are readily seen within it. This affects justice, peace, and generosity, which exist only when people have not been soiled by lowliness.
Besides the obvious negative impact, the loss of sanctity and morality and the inability to grasp truth and lofty ideas is a terrible tragedy. These are internal matters that are usually immediately recognizable within society, but eventually it is bound to be evident, for without knowledge of Hashem, the lowliness of bad characteristics will certainly try to take over and proliferate.
Therefore, one who is dedicated to sin will be afflicted by noticeable external wounds and also will be affected by the internalhadrokan. When society does not initially see the external indications and it seems to be running smoothly, it is because of people’s shortsightedness. The one whose eyes penetrate the façade will be able to discern even the signs of internal problems. That is what is meant by "hadrokan is a sign of sin," as its existence is a sign that the external manifestations will not take long to surface. This is part of a greater rule that small deteriorations, which are not initially noticeable, will still have a lasting internal impact, which will later show its strength publicly. Fortunate is he who avoids such things.
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.
