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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Yom Kippur
- The Essence of Yom Kippur
People know Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur by the name "Yamim Noraim," which means the Fearful Days. However, Chazal define them as days of light and of salvation, respectively (Vayikra Rabba 21:4, based on Tehillim 27:1). Certainly these days evoke fear. When a person stands face to face, so to speak, with the Creator of the World, who forgets nothing and from whom nothing is concealed, he naturally has elements of panic. If he can justify himself before people with 150 excuses and explanations, he knows he cannot succeed before He who knows all thoughts.
There are times that a person can fool himself and quiet his conscience with all sorts of excuses. At other times, he knows that he did something bad, but he tries to forget it. After all, that which was done was already done, and why should one agonize over the past? But, in truth, one needs to give an accounting for what he has done, and after he has died, he comes before Hashem as if he is still alive, and the evil action serves as a prosecutor against him: "Why did you do that?!" How fearful is the Day of Judgment?! What will be of us on the day of rebuke?!
However, hand-in-hand with the feeling of fear, the feeling of regret is awakened within us, and this is the mother of teshuva (repentance). It is impossible to ignore the past, but it is very possible to fix it. Every bad action carries with it an element of darkness. It creates a haze around our thought process and startles our senses, making us feel powerless. It is as if the evil is stronger than us, so that we are forced to accept the evil inclination’s will. One is like a mindless robot, controlled by someone else. The actions he will perform are dictated, and he is the not the master of his own destiny.
Then a beam of light shines forth to the dark corners of the soul. At first, one tries to avoid it and keep things dark. However, when one does not succeed and the light comes streaming in and penetrating deeper and deeper, he finally tries to change his course and recognize what he needs to do instead of being allusive. After all, we simply need to line up our actions with what is appropriate for us.
How fortunate are we who are unable to ignore our mistakes and that there really is a divine eye that observes us and a guiding hand that helps us cast off the filth and disgust. If evil actions are darkness, then at least there is one day a year, the Day of Atonement, to turn the darkness to light and turn everything into one entity. This is the day one, [the day when we are able to recreate ourselves].
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
