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Beit Midrash
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Yakov sends angels in advance to Esav to inform him that he is on his way to meet. Couldn’t these angels have warned Esav not to harm Yakov, just as Avimelech was told to stay away from Sara? And in the end, Esav
doesn’t lay a finger on Yakov; the disaster he so dreaded is one disappointing dud! So why was Yakov so fearful?
The key to understanding this whole scenario lies in Yakov’s encounter with the angel. He is alone, yet not quite alone. He wrestles with his deep-seated fear that he – the upright man of Truth, the Ish Chalak - is anything
but. Did he cheat Esav out of his birthright? Did he flee, like a coward, to the house of Lavan rather than confront his brother? Did he swindle Lavan out of his flock, as Lavan alleges? Why, oh why, is he constantly surrounded
by subterfuge rather than sincerity? This is what torments his soul.
The p’sukim dealing with the angel fixate on the word, "panim," face (or variations thereof). Just look at 32:31: "And Yakov called the place (of the encounter) P’niel, for I have seen the Divine face-to-face, and saved my soul."
The face is the body’s most open feature; it reveals everything about us (which is why many countries now ban the full covering of the face). The opposite of the face is the heel, which is hidden and covered. Is Yakov – whose
very name means "heel" – open and honest, or is he indeed a heel? This is the fight he must wage – within himself – and no one can fight it for him. Once he comes to grips with his true persona, Esav is just a powder-puff.
And so the name he receives from the angel, and later is confirmed by Hashem, is "Yisrael," which has the root of "yashar," straight, or honest. But still he retains his original name, Yakov, because this struggle is ongoing and eternal. His descendants – we Jews - must also battle against those who accuse us of being under-handed, devious; that we stole our land rather than fairly inherited or won it.
Like Yakov, each of us must battle our inner fears and traumas. We must be certain our behavior and struggle is moral, justified and noble. Guilt, if we let it, can weigh like an anchor around our necks; we must free ourselves of it
by acting in a holy fashion. Then we truly live up to the name Yisrael, as individuals and as a nation, and have nothing to fear from the Esavs of the world.
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.
