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And indeed, the difference between Israel and the nations is not seen in these things. The thing that gives the Jewish people true individuality is the torah, the faith. The faith in the lord of the universe, its creator and its leader, the faith in one god is the thing that makes us unique. The torah is the one that makes an essential and absolute difference between Israel and the nations. And this difference makes the relations between Israel and the nations so complex and tangled. And the sages have already said – 'for what reason it is called the mount of Sinai? Because hatred (sinah) came down and filled the nations from that day on' (Shemot Rabbah 2:4). The meaning of this saying is that since the torah was given to the people of Israel, a huge gap was created between Israel and the nations. This is the origin of the tension, this the reason for the adoration and the hostility, both at once.
The whole world is looking for the true god, the god of Israel, but on the other hand, he cannot achieve the great level of the faith of Israel, which is beyond every realization. Many nations accepted Israel's belief in god, the belief in one god, but not completely, not in a pure way.
In this current era, when the time of the true verification of the faith is getting closer, when the Jewish people are coming back to their land, and their return to the land of Israel and to Jerusalem is announcing the victory of Israel's faith, right now, in this period, the complexity of the relations between Israel and the nations reaches its peak. On the one hand, appreciation and help, and on the other interruptions and delays, coming from a subconscious desire to prevent the full return of Israel to their land and to Jerusalem. The sages foresaw this situation, and so they said – in the days to come, meaning the days of the beginning of Israel's redemption, non-Jews will come to convert to Judaism (Avodah Zarah 3b), but we won't accept non-Jews in the days of the messiah, because it's not a true and honest conversion, they will only come because of Israel's success. However, those non-Jews, even though they are not accepted, are starting to fulfill mitzvot as if they were Jews; they put on tefillin, put Tzitzit in their clothes, and affix a Mezuzah in their doorposts.
But eventually, the success of Israel will increase the nations resistance to the Jewish people, to the point that all of the nations will resist and interrupt the actions of the Jewish people, and that will be the war of Gog and Magog. And in this hard time, that these converted non-Jews will see that the whole world is coming to fight Israel, they will instantly leave the Israeli nation and the mitzvot. Then god will sit down and laugh, because they don't know what is about to happen, they don't know that Gog and all of his soldiers are going to be fully defeated, and by that finally it will be clear, that the lord of Israel is the true god, and there is no other god but him.
The sages foresaw this situation. Out of their profound psychological perception, and out of their knowledge of the origin of these relations between Israel and the nations, they could have known that in the days to come the nations will aid us at first, but as we grow stronger, they will turn against us, and stand in our way. All of that is caused by this tricky situation of longing to the lord of Israel on one hand, and having difficulties accepting him on the other. Indeed 'He who is enthroned in heaven laughs' (Psalms 2:4), because the hour of the godly appearance, and the great clarification that god, the lord of Israel, is the true god, is getting closer.
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
