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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sukkot
- The Essence of Sukkot
I once asked the question, "If you had only 1 solitary day to do Mitzvot, what day would you choose?" The best answer to that question is, "Today!" Because you never pass up a Mitzva today, even to do two Mitzvot tomorrow.
But the second best answer to that question may very well be "the first day of Sukkot." Because look at all the many Mitzvot that we fulfill on this one day: We have all the Mitzvot included in every Chag (Kiddush & Seudat Mitzva, Simchat Yom Tov, special Tefilot such as Hallel & Torah readings, etc.) plus the added Mitzvot of Sukka, taking of the Lulav & Etrog, & Hoshanot.
But please note the unique duality at work here. On the one hand, we are told to move out of our elegant & fortified homes into small huts, sparsely furnished & featuring leaky roofs & shaky walls. The message being sent is that our true Protector is Hashem - upon whom we are totally dependent - for only He can guarantee our safety & security. With Him, even the flimsiest shack is secure; without Him, no fortress is invulnerable.
Yet at the same time, we know that the state of "Shev v’al ta’aseh – sit & do nothing" is less than an ideal state for Am Yisrael. And so, although just entering a Sukka fulfills a Mitzva, Chazal prescribe eating food there & saying abracha that includes "layshayv b’Sukka." And we show further action when we take the Arba Minim & wave them in every direction; some even move their bodies while doing the waving. And we get out of our seats & walk around the Bet Knesset as we recite the Hoshanot. The message here is that we must become personally & physically involved in the experience of Judaism, rather than be silent, passive & detached.
This past week, Am Yisrael suffered a tragic loss when Ari Fuld HY"D was murdered by yet another cowardly Palestinian terrorist (who has since been praised & monetarily rewarded by the evil Palestinian Authority). Ari (like all the Ari’s I know!) was not content to just sit on the sidelines & silently watch Israel go by. He was filled with an inexhaustible energy; a doer, an activist whose every moment, every talent was devoted to Israel’s well-being & success. Even when mortally wounded, he courageously fought back.
The greatest tribute we can give Ari, the greatest memorial to his life, is for us to become more involved ourselves, banishing our apathy & inertia & doing whatever we can to destroy our enemies, while building up our people and our country. Each of us has our own unique strengths; let us identify & utilize them for a greater cause.
The symbolism of the circles we make during Hoshanot & the Na’anuim we do with the Lulav are reminders that each & every one of us can be a mover & a shaker!
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.
