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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Naso
David was also the first to decide the question of where the spiritual center of the Jewish people would be – where was the "place that G-d shall choose"? Yerushalayim became and has been the capital city since the days of King David. Yerushalayim brings together both the national side, the political freedom from foreign powers that we saw was highlighted in Brit Bein Hab’tarim and the seventh day of Pesach, as well as the spiritual epicenter of the nation, connecting the law and the Mikdash that were intertwined on Har Habayit.
In light of this, let us focus on the following phenomenon. The Sefer Yehoshua focuses mainly on the fulfillment of the mitzva "You shall conquer the Land" (Bamidbar 33:53-54)
Yehoshua Bin Nun, it seems, did not focus on building governmental structures for coming generations. He drew his strength from his teacher, Moshe Rabbeinu. As a leader, he also dealt with strengthening the bond between the nation and Hashem as well as with the king. This is proven from the common version of the brit in those times: "Yehoyada made a covenant between Hashem and the king and the nation to be a nation for G-d, and between the king and the nation" (Melachim II, 11:17)
Yehoshua did not deal with the location of "the place that G-d shall choose" or the building of the Mikdash. Sefer Shoftim mainly deals with strengthening localized leadership. The Judges for the entire part of that era, according to the simple understanding of the p’sukim, were not judges but leaders. Only in the time of Shaul, the question arose of a unified state under one king who would pass the kingship onto his children. Even Shaul did not deal with the question of the Mikdash (other than on one night). In the days of David, the royal family was chosen for generations, an independent Jewish state was established, and a legal system was introduced to deal with criminal punishments. Only after this did the question of the Mikdash arise, and it was ultimately built after King David’s death by his son Shlomo.
The order is clear. First we need to clarify the national and royal side, and only afterward can we deal with the building of the Mikdash, with a Torah-based legal system at its side, in the most ideal fashion.
Let us pray that just as we merited to see the beginning of the redemption on a national level with a state, and with a high Torah level (never before has there been so much Torah learning), so too should we merit to see progress in establishing a Torah-based legal system. This will sanctify Hashem’s Name and ultimately bring the Shechina to dwell among us again.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
