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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: There are two ever-opposing and competing powers – the power of limiting and that of exaggeration. Only when each has an impact is a good balance reached, which is built on the essence of the two coming together. We find this especially on the holy rest day of Shabbat, in which the spirit is expanded and is indulged.
It is women who are liable to lean too much in the direction of external adornment, which can cause many to sin and create havoc in families and nations. Girls have much more of an inclination toward adornment than men do. Just as the proper measure of adornment is precious and positive, so too its exaggeration is highly destructive to the spirit and the body. Regarding the holy day of Shabbat, the Rabbis were inspired to make limitations on adornments, albeit for ostensibly side issues. Specifically, as a result of showiness, one might remove jewelry and show such articles to others in the public domain, thereby desecrating Shabbat. Be it as it may, there is a restriction specifically on Shabbat, the holy day of indulging and rest, on the desire to show off in a manner that could strike roots that are too deep. Indeed, when fanciness is overdone, it can take the heart away from everything that is truthful and good, internal and eternal. Even when it starts out good and full of light, when it goes off course, it harms the center of life and sanctity in a terrible way. It can take that which is lofty and sacred and turn it into mundane, external, and petty.
The awakening of the heart of Jewish adornment is very pleasant when girls wear on their head a golden representation of Yerushalayim, the city of our internal strength. The legacy of good mothers represents that which is good in the nation, as "the Torah of your mother" refers to the Nation of Israel (Berachot 35b). The subjective understanding that creates a good feeling needs to be prepared by the sanctity of a mother, whose feelings come from the most basic feeling of her spirit, with the splendor which is unique to her. This is what Chazal meant when saying that Hashem braided Chava’s hair and presented her to Adam. It is at this point that the holy feeling of the nation as a whole has to find its place.
The best material for which to receive an attractive form is the fine feeling to host a divine soul, whose power comes from the highest intellect, which is connected to G-d’s Torah. This is best represented by a Jerusalem of gold ornament, which women who were very connected to their nation and Land wore. The center of their nation’s life was their adornment. However, this idea must not relate to a lowly physical object, without light, wisdom, or Torah-based internal grandeur. Rather it should be an outgrowth of the power of a pure feeling of connection to true knowledge of Hashem that is encapsulated in the Torah. When such a strong feeling toward the centrality of the nation comes from the right place, then it is a feeling of truth and justice that has eternal value.
The Jerusalem of gold we are speaking about was the type that Rabbi Akiva, the great "counter of the Torah’s letters," whose opinions are commonly assumed to be the correct ones, and whose soul departed when he completed Shema, made for his wife. This is a source from which national emotions are best. Even so, since these feelings are connected also to an external showiness, they need to be limited and kept in check. That is why, at least on Shabbat, one cannot wear such adornments, to show that physical adornments are not to threaten the prominence of the internal beauty of rest and sanctity of Shabbat.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
