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Beit Midrash
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Ein Ayah: If a person could more clearly conceive the destructive power of lashon hara, he would energize his efforts to avoid speaking improperly. A person is often misled by the fact that speaking is so easy to do to think that it cannot possibly have such a major negative impact.
Sometimes he can be convinced only by a physical sign that shows that speech is not necessarily a simple act to be taken for granted. If not for Divine Grace, speech would actually be a difficult task, which we forget because of the consistency of Hashem’s help. Therefore, askara is painfully effective in heightening the appreciation of the powerful significance of speech. This hopefully will help one heighten his awareness of the moral imperative to avoid lashon hara.
Appreciating those who Use their Voice
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 2:246)
Gemara: Our Rabbis have taught: Askara comes to the world due to [failure to give] ma’asrot (tithes). Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Yossi says: Due to lashon hara.
Ein Ayah: Man has many material needs, but the most prominent one is the ability to speak in a spiritual manner, a power that comes from a person’s elevated side. This is true for all people, and all the more so for the Jewish people, who have a special need to use those elements that promote their special spiritual tasks.
The sanctity of ma’aser exists in order that the Sons of Levi can dedicate themselves to the holy task of national service of Hashem. These holy functionaries have a special impact on the entire nation even by means of actions, such as the bringing of ketoret (incense), that are done unobserved by others. The level of the nation is elevated based on the spiritual level of those chosen to serve. However, their full impact will only come about if the people of the nation actively attach themselves to the kohanim.
Therefore, if the people refuse to act on the obligation to support the kohanim so that they can work, by giving tithes, the whole foundation of the partnership collapses. While there is the potential for gaining from the material connection with the holy people in addition to learning from them, that is only when they show their appreciation of thekohanim’s holy work.
This is both in regards to the service in the Beit Hamikdash and to Torah study - the levi’im work on the outside. They, the recipients ofma’aser (kohanim receive teruma), are the ones whose service includes their voices, used in song and in rendering rulings, and they thereby show the importance of speech. Therefore, not appreciating them can be connected to the disease of askara, which prevents the use of spiritual speech. When one does not show appreciation for that tool, he may lose the ability to use it himself. This also connects the sin of not givingma’aser to that of speaking lashon hara.
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.
