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Lea bat Miryam
The Rabbi tells the Khazar king not to judge the Hebrew tongue according to its present guise (i.e., its state 1,200 years ago, in the time of the Khazar king) for it has suffered a plight similar to that of the Jewish people as whole. The language has become weak and depleted due to the weakness and depletion which, because of the difficult exile, have taken hold of its speakers, the Jewish people. However, in all truth, the Hebrew language is inherently sacred and is the most noble of the languages.
The greatness of Hebrew is noted in our Festival prayers which read, "You chose us from all of the nations, You loved us, and desired us, and elevated us above all of the languages, and sanctified us through your commandments." Here, then, we assert that God "elevated us above all of the languages."
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
41 - 41. Torah and Secular Disciplines
42 - 42. The Preeminence of the Holy Tongue
43 - 43. Hebrew's Preeminence - Continued
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Hebrew possesses two distinctive ingredients: cantillative punctuation (te'amim) and vowels (nikud).
After all, the spoken word has a natural advantage over the written. When a person speaks, he is able to pause between subjects, emphasizes certain words, change the tone of his speech. The speaker, in order to express query, wonder, or amazement employs an appropriate tone. There is likewise a special tone that is used when expressing fright. All of this is lacking in the writ.
Indeed, in Hebrew texts that have come down to us from the past, in sacred Hebrew, there are cantillation marks which accompany the words. We use these marks when reading from the Torah, and with their help we are able to grasp the intended meaning of the written word. They indicate a question or an answer, separate between subjects, differentiate between that which should be read quickly and that which should be read slowly, between a command and a request. Today, even the cantillation marks have not been preserved in their full sense, and therefore they do not fulfill their complete role. However, the true task of these marks, as noted, is to breathe life into the dry written language and to provide it with the tools to express its inner content in the fullest sense.
A second unique quality possessed by Hebrew is its vowel system. To a degree, this too was disrupted by the exile. The Hebrew vowels aid in the expression of ideas with astounding precision.
At this point the Rabbi expands upon the role of Hebrew vowels, addressing the fine points and advantages of this tool. He gives a lengthy and detailed dissertation to the King of the Khazars on the laws of Hebrew grammar and vowelization. We will not go into these matters here. However, of this we are certain, cantillation marks and vowels which accompany Hebrew words place the Hebrew tongue on a level above all other languages.
This concludes another chapter in our exploration of the foundations of the Jewish faith according to R' Yehuda HaLevi's classic work, "The Kuzai."
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.
