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Prayer over There
It was Shabbat afternoon. Eliyahu had just come home from synagogue with his family, and now he was standing, kiddush cup in hand, ready to recite the blessing. Suddenly, the peaceful scene was disturbed by the blaring of a siren. His children ran to the window.
"Daddy, it’s an ambulance!" Eliyahu’s son, Refael, called. "It’s pulling up right next to our house."
"Yeah, there are men coming out and going to our neighbor’s house!"
Eliyahu ran outside. There was his dear neighbor and friend, Yaakov, being carried out of the house on a stretcher. As the paramedics carefully brought Yaakov into the waiting ambulance, Yaakov’s wife apprised Eliyahu of the situation. Things were not looking good. Yaakov was in serious danger.
After the ambulance had pulled away, Eliyahu ran back inside his house. He told his family about Yaakov’s situation. Eliyahu told his children that they needed to pray to Hashem to ask Hashem make Yaakov feel better. He said a chapter of Tehillim together with them.
"Daddy, didn’t you say that, if a person is sick, it’s a good idea to ask a great rabbi for a blessing?" Eliyahu’s son, Uri asked. "Let’s do that now!"
"But now is Shabbat!" called out Refael. "You can’t call or email anyone now, to ask for a blessing."
"I have an idea!" exclaimed Eliyahu’s wife. "Let’s ask the DaCostas! We can go next door and ask them to send an email for us. It’s Shabbat here in the United States, but in Israel, Shabbat is already over. So we can send an email to a rabbi there!"
Yaakov ran over to his neighbor, Ray DaCosta. He explained the situation, and dictated the email address of a well-known rabbi in Israel. "Please pray for Yaakov the son of Chana, to have a complete recovery."
Did Eliyahu act correctly, in asking a non-Jew to send an email on Shabbat, in order to ask a rabbi to pray for Yaakov’s recovery?
Answer of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik (Rabbi Chaim Brisker), zt"l:
Because there is a possibility that the blessing of the rabbi will save Yaakov’s life, Eliyahu’s actions fall under the category of safek pikuach nefesh (possibly saving a life), and he acted correctly. (from Nefesh Harav by Rabbi Hershel Shachter, page 167. Note: the question Rabbi Soloveitchik answered regarded the sending of a telegram on Shabbat.)
Answer of Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer), zt"l:
Eliyahu acted incorrectly. It is incorrect to violate Shabbat in order to secure the blessing of a rabbi, because it is not guaranteed that the prayer will yield positive results. The concept of safek pikuach nefesh is in regard to only natural measures taken to lead to a sick person’s recovery. There are two rationales for this ruling:
1) The Heshiv Moshe: Hashem knows a person’s thoughts, and is aware that, if it were not Shabbat, the person would write to a rabbi and request a blessing, and Hashem will save the person, even without the blessing.
2) Rabbi Shlomo Kluger (U’bacharta Bachayim): There is no need for this prayer, because Shabbat itself has the power to help, in place of the blessing of the rabbi.
In Summary: According to Rabbi Chaim Brisker, Eliyahu acted correctly, because his actions were an attempt to possibly save a life. According to the Tzitz Eliezer, Eliyahu’s actions were improper.
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts