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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: The purpose of the entire Torah and all its details is to instill its holiness and the depth of its great value in the hearts of the nation of Hashem. Therefore, the details of the mitzvot are the aspects that are most clear, and through them the nation as a whole expresses their inner feeling of how dear and great the Torah is in their hearts.
On occasion, it happens that a certain leniency will be the medium to cause an overwhelming feeling of honor and sanctity of the Torah. It is not necessarily by means of the specific halachic ruling but from a more holistic understanding that brings the people to respect the Sages who have a fear of Heaven and to sense their great value. In such a case, it is fine for there to be a decision that leans, even surprisingly, towards leniency. For the leniency itself that is connected to the honor of the Sages will give this lofty feeling of dependence on a great rabbi in a manner that is equivalent to the practical impact of an act of stringency.
The leniency can be even more powerful than a stringency. This is because the stringency will be based only on the specific detailed case while giving honor to the Sages who ruled leniently and heeding their words is based on the larger value of a mitzva that includes the foundation of all of the Oral Torah and is the basis for the covenant between Hashem and Am Yisrael. This mitzva is the obligation to heed the words of the Sages.
Rebbi found a need to be stringent regarding insulating cold foods on Shabbat, in order to strengthen people’s appreciation for the lofty sanctity of Shabbat. However after hearing that Rabbi Yossi ruled leniently on the matter, he declared: "The elder has already ruled leniently." This came about because Rabbi Yossi saw fit that in his time this was the correct evaluation. Rebbi now ascertained that there was a judgement that was more inclusive (than the specific mitzva of Shabbat), and this leniency itself would bring an abundance of holiness for those who cling to it. For it would strengthen in the hearts of the nation their appreciation and honor of the Sages. This would result in life and bring a strengthened sense of holiness. That is why Rebbi declared, "The elder has already ruled leniently."
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
