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Beit Midrash
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What an unusual, mysterious phrase this is! What does it mean? Which things are hidden, & which revealed? And why are there 11 little dots above 3 of the pasuk’s words?
One idea is that while sins hidden from the public are the sole responsibility of Hashem to prosecute, sins which are openly committed fall within the province of the community to deal with & correct, because of the principle, "Kal Yisrael Eravim Zeh L’Zeh" – each Jew has an obligation to - & is a guarantor for - every other Jew.
Another approach is that the sins we ourselves are unaware of having transgressed, sins we did accidently (such as forgetting it was Shabbat and turning on a light) or out of ignorance of the Halacha, will not be fully held against us by G-d.
But there is yet another meaning to this pasuk that I find particularly topical in today’s Jewish world.
Rashi (in another place) suggests the pasuk is referring to those Jews who, over the centuries, became so assimilated into foreign societies that they themselves forgot that they were Jewish! Yet in the end of days, they will finally be re-identified as Jews – perhaps by Moshiach, who it is said will have the power to look at anyone & immediately recognize his lineage - & reunited with the totality of Am Yisrael.
I want to suggest that perhaps we do not need to wait for the End of Days in order to realize this amazing prophecy. Perhaps the phrase, "We & our descendants" in the verse is coming to tell us that using the advanced technology of today, we can search for, "reveal" & connect to the literally millions of people with Jewish roots & Jewish DNA, & bring them back into the fold. Such people exist in Spain, Poland, Russia, Africa, India & elsewhere; kal hakavod to all those pioneering heroes who are finding & bringing back these "hidden" Jews.
But the key is to bring them back TO ISRAEL! Only here in the Jewish State can they truly end their wandering & be a full-fledged member of our nation. Otherwise, they may simply get caught up in more assimilation & be lost once again.
As for those curious 11 dots: The gematriya (numerical value) of the letters below them add up to 312. That number 312 equals, among other things, Or L’Yehudim (A light unto the Jewish People); Gadol im Katan (the big and the small); Hachzara L’Mutav (a return to the good) & Hee Ha-Aretz (this is the Land) – as well as the word Shoa. Taken together, it spells out the powerful message that we must be a light to all Jews, & we must bring these lost brothers & sisters - the big & the small, the old & the young - back to their good origins, in this land. That is the only way to save them from a future Shoa - catastrophe, & re-unite them with their rightful destiny.
May Hashem unite all of Am Yisrael, & may this New Year bring a final Geula in rebuilt Israel & Yerushalayim.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
