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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- 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].
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.