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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Va'etchanan
We will look at an interesting phenomenon that emerges from this Torah section. "Hear, O Israel (Shema Yisrael), the statutes and laws that I am saying in your ears today …" (Devarim 5:1). The Torah then (ibid. 4) describes the people’s level: "Face to face Hashem spoke with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire." This was literally awe-inspiring, as the pasuk says: "For you were afraid due to the fire" (ibid. 5).
In the section that follows the repetition of the Ten Commandments, the Torah describes the discussion surrounding Bnei Yisrael’s concern about continuing to hear "Hashem’s voice" (ibid. 20-25). The section ends off: "You, Israel, shall hear and guard to fulfill so that it be good for you …" (ibid. 6:3). Directly following this are the beloved words that every Jew says twice a day from the time of his youth: "Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem echad" (ibid. 4).
The level of encountering Hashem "face to face" (Shemot 33:11) is the greatest level of closeness to the divine imaginable. Every individual Jew should strive for such closeness even though he will not succeed in reaching it. Even Moshe – who "spoke to Hashem face to face" (Shemot 33:11) on an ongoing basis – when he asked, "Show me Your glory" (ibid. 18), he was turned down, as it says: "You will not be able to see My face, for man is unable to see Me and live" (ibid. 20). Despite this fact, David did "seek Hashem’s face" (Tehillim 27:8).
If this is a goal that cannot be realized, what is the practical solution? "Hear, O Israel (Shema Yisrael), the statutes and laws." If we rise to the challenge, then we can take the power of the experience of Sinai and successfully convert it into a serious ongoing relationship of "Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem echad."
We have merited completing the three weeks of mourning for the Temple to arrive at the seven weeks of consolation, during which we read haftarot about the great liberation. The Temple was destroyed due to baseless hatred, which is often caused by a failure to listen seriously to the words of another Jew. If we will be more attentive to our brothers’ voices, even if we do not always agree with them, we will merit the shining countenance of Hashem, and maybe we will approach the level of "face to face" with Him.
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.