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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Emor
Sfirat Ha’omer (the counting of the Omer) connects the holidays of Passover and Shavuot, thereby connecting the physical aspect of the exodus from Egypt and the spiritual aspect of receiving the Torah. The Rambam (Mor’e Nevochim, 3:43) speaks of the anticipation that builds up towards accepting the Torah, when one counts the days of the Omer. Rabbi Yosef "b’chor shor" further explains in depth using an allegory, whereby a slave is imprisoned and is promised by the king that he will be freed from prison within fifty days, and also receive the king’s home. The slave did not believe the king. Only upon being freed did the slave begin to count the fifty days, because only after he saw that the king fulfilled the first promise of freeing him from prison, could he believe that the second promise of granting the slave his home, would too be fulfilled. Similarly to this is the idea of Sefirat Hao’mer . Am Yisrael did not believe they would ever leave Egypt. Upon the exodus, they told themselves if the first promise of leaving Egypt was fulfilled, then we shall surely receive the Torah, the fulfillment of the second promise, and so they began counting.
The Zohar in our Parasha (Parasha Emor, 167) presents a different approach. The Zohar says that one who does not count the Omer days is impure and therefore is not entitled to be a part of the Torah. And, one who approaches Shavuot and is pure, always keeping track of the days counted, when the last night arrives, he must learn Torah and connect to it and preserve the pureness that is bestowed upon him, and thus he will be purified. The Zohar uses the word "tahor" (pure). The novel interpretation the Zohar presents is that the counting of the Omer is not only in anticipation, but rather a lengthly preparation towards receiving the Torah. Similar to this is the woman who counts the days to purity following menstruation.
A man prepares himself for his wedding, prepares for a family occasion. When a person does something of significance, he prepares himself for it. The preparation has two purposes: one is to know what has to be done on the occasion (technical preparations for a wedding) and two is to prepare one’sself mentally, spiritually. To elevate ourselves, from a regular daytoday manner of being to a more elevated, unique way of being.
Such a preparation can be seen in several instances throughout the Torah. Am Yisrael prepared themselves in the same way before the Lord revealed himself to them on Sinai (Exodus 19: 1011): "And the Lord said to Moses ‘go to the people and prepare them today and tomorrow, and they shall wash their garments: And they shall be prepared for the third day, for on the third day, the Lord will descend before the eyes of all the people upon Mount Sinai". Similarly so, the high priest prepares himself for the prayers and work on Yom Kippur (Masechet Yoma 1:1) and so we too prepare ourselves for the fiftieth day, The holiday of Shavuot, of the receiving of the Torah.
We hereby learn that the days of Sefirat Hao’mer connect Passover to Shavuot, connect the materialistic exodus to the spiritual elevation. This connection of time enables us to approach Shavuot with purity and wholeness. There is anticipation of the event and there is also a special preparation for receiving the Torah.
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.
