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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Tenth of Tevet
- Yom Hakaddish Haklali
Moshe also makes the cryptic statement, on the phrase Bik’rovei Ekadesh ("through those who are closest to Me I shall be sanctified," Rashi, 10:3): "I knew, brother, that the Mishkan would only be built due the martyrdom of
someone, but I always thought that it would be you and I!"
While I have never been able to fully understand this chapter, and why it is that a righteous person must die in order for G-d's plan to proceed, I can relate to the reality that tragedy is an inherent component of Judaism, and it very often serves to ennoble, energize and enable Am Yisrael to go stoically forward.
My first position in the rabbinate was in Ft. Worth, Texas. The shamas of our shul was Abbala, an elderly, short bald man who spoke in a high-pitched, raspy voice that was barely understandable. He scampered to and fro,
bringing siddurim to the congregants, setting up the Kiddush each Shabbat, even cheerfully serving breakfast each Sunday after the morning minyan. He would hug me each time he saw me, and I loved him, as did we all.
I never knew Abbala’s story until a reporter for our local paper – who belonged to the shul – decided to interview him for Yom HaShoa. It turns out that Abbala spent several years in a death camp. Due to his tiny stature and
unusual appearance, the Nazis, y’mach sh’mam, made him a kind of "mascot." They mocked and ridiculed him, and even made him wear a tight dog collar that destroyed his vocal chords. They would pull him around on a leash, and
had him perform all kinds of menial jobs for them.
After learning of his history, I asked Abbala how he maintained his positive attitude towards life, and why he was so good to others. He said to me, "The Nazis castrated me, and so I never had any children. Now, all the people in our shul are my children. Each time I serve them, I am making up for all the times that I had to serve the Nazi monsters. That is my revenge, and that is what gives me life."
No Jew should ever be subjugated; that is a gross Chilul Hashem that should never be tolerated. But how we react to suffering when it does occur, how we dedicate ourselves to serving our fellow Jew and maintaini our faith,
that is a Kiddush Hashem of the highest order. It not only can modify our pain; it can even build the Bet HaMikdash.
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.
