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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Yom Kippur
- The Essence of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the holiest of days, has two diametrically opposed halachot. There is a strict requirement to "afflict" ourselves. On the other hand, Chazal relate great importance to eating on the day before it.
R. Yehoshua ben Chananya tried to learn from the pasuk, "You [Moshe] are going to lie with your fathers, and the nation will get up and act licentiously" (Devarim 31:16) that there is resurrection of the dead (it can be read, with difficulty, that Moshe will get up) and that Hashem knows what will happen in the future. He settles at the end that the pasuk proves only the latter, but why would one consider to read the pasuk referring to resurrection, which seems to "abuse" the pasuk?
[In the next section, Rav Yisraeli takes the people of his generation to task for certain important shortcomings in the national sphere. While this contains important lessons, we will not focus on them at this time.]
The Jewish People has almost unlimited ability to grow spiritually because they can use even that which is mundane in the world for sanctity. When Moshe was on Sinai for 40 days and nights without eating and drinking, it was not that he did not need sustenance, but that the sustenance came from the Divine Presence (see Shemot Rabba 47:7). Man is not sustained by bread alone but on all that comes from Hashem’s ‘mouth’ (see Devarim 8:3), as everything in the world is spiritual. It is just that we are not able to digest in that way, although Moshe was able to.
On Yom Kippur, there is a shadow of Moshe’s level in all of us, as this was the day that Moshe came down from Sinai the final time. The essence of the fast is refraining from physical activity, and we raise ourselves to the level of angels. That is why the haftara focuses on fasting, in a manner that discusses increased activity. For it is not a fast of lack of energy but of obtaining power through spiritual means. That is also why stress is placed on eating on Erev Yom Kippur. It is to teach that it is all the same. We can use the spiritual ‘food’ of the fast day the way we used the regular food the day before. Even though we cannot always be sustained in this manner, we must know that from the perspective of what Hashem provides, it is possible.
These ideas also explain why Bnei Yisrael falls steeply at times. We have a great appetite for spiritual food, but when we are not able to find it, we go looking for things that remind us of it. Simple avoda zara like other nations do does not suffice for a misguided Jew, as he is looking for more, even if it is in a more dangerous way.
For this reason, when Moshe died and was lost to Israel, the nation got up and adopted licentious tendencies in the broadest sense. The discussion of resurrection of the dead was not about physical death but about spiritual death. They need not stay dead; they can get up. That state is not natural for them, and they will be able to return to spiritual form.
What is needed is "great repentance, which reaches until His glorious throne" (Yoma 6:1). Not partial repentance, but one that transcends boundaries and impediments. We have experienced partial redemption, but that is not enough. We need geula shleima, a return to all of our spiritual greatness. This is what we pray for on these holy days.
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.
