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Beit Midrash
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Moshe’s supplication served as the basis for the Rabbis who composed the main tefillot for Klal Yisrael. Rav Simla’i said: One should always set out Hashem’s praises and then pray. How do we know this? We learn from Moshe, as the pasuk says: "I pleaded before Hashem" and then it says: "Hashem, you have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand, as there is no god in the heavens and earth who can do like Your actions and Your valor." Only afterward, it says: "Let me pass through and see the good Land" (Berachot 32a). After the supplication comes praise.
David Hamelech requested the privilege of building the Beit Hamikdash, but his request was rejected. The rejection was not due to criticism of his actions but because his family monarchy was not yet "built," until Shlomo sat on his throne. First, kingdom must come, and only afterward the Beit Hamikdash can be built. We find this order in Birkat Hamazon as well: "Hashem, have mercy on Your nation Israel and on Your city of Jerusalem, on Zion, the dwelling place of Your Presence, on the kingdom of the House of David Your anointed one, and on the great and holy house upon which Your Name is called." So while David was not allowed to build the House (i.e., the Beit Hamikdash = The House of G-d), Hashem promised him that he would succeed in building a house of monarchy, an eternal dynasty.
If one checks carefully, he will notice that no one, from the time of Moshe to the time of David, merited having his position inherited by his son. Moshe did not merit it, nor did Yehoshua. None of the shoftim had a son appointed after him, not even Eili or even Shmuel, who tried but did not succeed. The first king, Shaul, desired that his son Yonatan would inherit his throne, but he understood already during his lifetime that this would not happen.
Looking at the 7th chapter of Shmuel II, we will find that the first half of the chapter contains the prophecy preventing David from building the Beit Hamikdash. In the second half of the chapter, we see the elements of tefilla that we learn from Moshe Rabbeinu. There is praise (18-24), supplications (25-26) and thanks (27-29).
David, the singer of pleasant songs in and for Israel, was able to learn from Moshe Rabbeinu how to build the structure of the proper prayer. We try to be students of both of them. (I will explain the p’sukim more deeply in my upcoming sefer, Tzofnat Shmuel.)
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.
