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Beit Midrash
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What is most perplexing is that Sara laughs at this news, seemingly in disbelief. (The fact that Avraham also laughed, said my Rebbe, is not so unusual – men have lesser faith than women!). Hashem finds it necessary to call Sara out on her failure to believe that G-d can create any miracle, at any time, even when seemingly impossible (the Gemara says that Sara actually lacked a uterus, making birth a physical impossibility). Even when Sara denies having laughed, Avraham corrects her, "Oh, no, you certainly did laugh!"
But perhaps it was the disbelief of Sara, the great pillar of faith -and her eventual joy at the miracle performed for her - that would set the stage for the future. Says the Medrash:
"Why was Sara granted a son only in her old age, after she had despaired of ever having a child? It was to be a lesson for all time: If anyone would give up hope that Hashem would return the Jewish People to Jerusalem and rebuild the Bet HaMikdash, he would be told, ‘Just as Sara was rejuvenated after many years, though she and everyone else did not believe it could happen, so will Hashem rejuvenate and redeem us in supernatural fashion.’ "
Though we live in an age where miracles come dressed in natural clothing, every once in a while some event comes along to remind us that miracles can indeed happen, that we mortals do not know everything, and certainly do not control everything. When we look at the events of the American election, we are overwhelmed by how stunning an upset this was, how all the so-called experts were wrong in their predictions, arrogantly assuming that their candidate could not possibly lose. But lose she did.
What exactly will this mean for Am Yisrael? Will it lead to better times for Israel, more support, maybe even the rebuilding of the Bet HaMikdash in our days? (See, for example, an excellent article recently written by a close friend:
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/mr-trump-rebuild-the-thirdtemple/.
I am no prophet; I cannot say for sure what all this portends. But what IS clear is that the Hand of Hashem is being raised in a very obvious way; it tells us that nothing is ever beyond the realm of possibility, and it surely is pointing clearly to Geula/Redemption.
Sara’s laugh may have begun as one of disbelief, but it ended in joy. We, too, shall have the last laugh.
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.
