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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
The Rabbi does a wonderful job of outlining such a personality before the Khazar king. The Hassid, he explains, is a man of faith, actual living faith. Not mere intellectual, theoretical faith, but concrete living faith. Wherever he looks, he sees God. He sees the wonderful workings of nature, and they are full of God's wisdom.
He looks at himself, his own body, at the wonderful workings of the human body, the nervous system, the blood, digestion, muscles. Many books have been written about the human body, its complex and fantastic resources. It is God who has created man with such wisdom. The Hassid looks at himself and is awed by God's wisdom. He says, "from my flesh I can see God" (Job 19:26).
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
46 - 47. The “Hassid” - The Ideal Jew
47 - 48. More about the Ideal Jew
48 - 49. True Faith Brings Trust in God
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In the time of the ancients, the practice was that before entering the bathroom one would say, "Be honored, my revered ones." That is, they would say to the accompanying angels, "Excuse me please. Wait here outside while I relieve myself, be honored and wait here for me to return." Something of this practice still exists today in the custom to sing "Shalom Aleikhem Malakhei HaSharet" ('Peace upon you, O ministering angels") on Sabbath evening upon returning home from the Synagogue. We do this because two ministering angels accompany the Jew home from the Synagogue on Sabbath evening.
These customs - "Be honored, my revered ones" and "Shalom Aleikhem" - evidence the fact that Israel is accompanied by angels, "for His angels has He instructed concerning you, to protect you on your every path." Incidentally, the question arises as to why the practice to say "Be honored, my revered ones" was discontinued while the "Shalom Aleikhem" custom continued. If it is no longer proper to say "Be honored, my revered ones" because we are not important enough to be accompanied by angels (as the commentators explain), why do we continue to sing "Shalom Aleikhem"?
Rabbi A.Y. HaCohen Kook explains that the custom to say "Be honored, my revered ones" was due to the fact that at that time Jews would wear tefillin (prayer phylacteries), and by virtue of the tefillin, the angles would provide accompaniment. Today, however, Jews only wear tefillin during morning prayers, and therefore angles do not accompany us and there is no need to say "Be honored, my revered ones." The Sabbath, however, is itself a kind of sign, a reminder, like tefillin, and therefore, by merit of the Sabbath, angels even today accompany the Jew home from the Synagogue, and we sing "Shalom Aleikhem."
Getting back to the matter of the Hassid. Such a person leads a life of attachment to God, he places tefillin on his head and arm in relation to his brain and heart, and they serve as a sign, recalling God's unity and the Exodus from Egypt. He wears tzitzi'ot (tassels) which serve to remind him of all the Divine commandments, and to warn him and not to stray after his heart, as it is written, "that you seek not after your heart and your eyes, which incline you to go astray" (Numbers 15:39), and he serves God joyfully all the days of his life.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
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.
