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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: When one internally strengthens his spirit with divine-based purity, this creates a life of sanctity and goodness. The agitation that is related to blood, which can overpower the purity of the soul and pollute to the point that its nature is affected, colors the spirit with a foreign color, a red stain, so that its natural color is not recognizable in life.
The sa’ir hamishtale’ach specifically corresponds to the sins that are innately against the nature of the natural spirit of the Jew. It is only the foreign color of animal blood that colored one’s life in such a blood-like color.
This color of the active foreign influence makes one comparable to a goat, which is the image of something that damages others spiritually. This finds its place after the polluting takes place, in the thoughts of the brain, which is found in the head (where the red strip is attached). It becomes clear that these thoughts are the source of the polluting blood. They are not natural human thoughts, which are lofty and connected to the special soul, which comes from the light of the living G-d. The brain itself is that which brings forth the repentance and the mending of the deep spirit. For this reason, we tie a strip of bright red fabric to the head of the sa’ir hamishtale’ach as the pasuk says: "If their sins will be like scarlet, they will be whitened like snow."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
