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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: There are, in a person’s soul, truths that he can acquire only by study and deep investigation. There are also truths that are imbedded in the depths of the soul that are more exalted than anything that can be studied or taught.
The important relationship between a teacher and a student relates to the category of truths that are acquired through study. There are other elements of wisdom, which a person acquires in a manner that makes them set in his heart and soul through the nature which Hashem put in his spirit. This ability comes from a person possessing some of the sanctity of Avraham Avinu, who learned without having a teacher. Chazal tell us that Hashem "made his two kidneys like two teachers, and they taught him wisdom."
When one comes to this high level and needs to make a personal decision, he finds himself equipped with a rare power to reach truth. At that point, he is on a higher level than he can receive from a teacher or mentor because his spirit is lit with a divine light, which is the source of wisdom. Even so, the great person who is inspired in this way has the obligation to consider the possibility that the truth that is beyond that which he can learn in classic ways, may be one which is appropriate only for him personally. In that case, the general approach, which most people are to follow, is the one that is taught in the normal way by his teachers, with the student acting in a humble manner in which he accepts the authority of his teacher.
Indeed the great Rav Zeira possessed the flame of holy desire to move to Eretz Yisrael. His spirit was already at its peak and had made the holy internal decision that emanated from the depths of his heart. The divine voice had already called out powerfully to him, so that he was above the place at which he should accept the opinion of his teacher, Rav Yehuda. He was prepared to move to Eretz Yisrael against Rav Yehuda’s opinion. However, Rav Zeira never forgot the obligation to give the proper respect for his teacher, which is the foundation of the world, in all generations and all times, for all people and regarding all matters.
That is why he arranged things in a manner that it would be clear that he very much respected the great opinion of his teacher. He wanted to be careful not to violate Rav Yehuda’s words, even though the desire to move to Eretz Yisrael had become the center of his life in the present and for eternity and was the source of his lofty inclination. He, therefore, avoided Rav Yehuda so that it should not seem that he was acting in a rebellious manner toward him. Rav Zeira knew that there was significant place for Rav Yehuda’s opinion and that this was even a more generally correct approach than the one he found right for himself personally.
By avoiding Rav Yehuda, he was able to avoid facing him in a "narrow passageway" in a manner that he was contradicting his teacher’s words due to what he saw as a divine decree to personally act to move to Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, while Rav Zeira need not and could not listen to Rav Yehuda, he wanted Rav Yehuda’s protest to remain general and not be directed specifically toward him. In that case, Rav Zeira was removed from the group of regular people and above them. "In love for her [Eretz Yisrael] will you always be occupied" (see Mishlei 5:19).
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
