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Beit Midrash
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In many ways, this is THE crucial phrase in the entire Hagada. It tells us that we are not just re-living events of a long-ago past, but rather are experiencing something real, something relevant to the here & now, something that can & should change us, no less than our Israelite ancestors who underwent their own dramatic change from lowly slaves to free & upstanding people.
What are the lessons we should be taking from Pesach in general, & from the Seder in particular?
* Hashem surely performs miracles. True, these may not be obvious happenings; often they are concealed within natural events that seem to us quite routine. But they are constantly there, & they help us – both as a nation & as individuals – to accomplish things that seem impossible.
* Life has its bitter moments. No life is totally free of disappointments, sadness or tragedy; Maror, like it or not, is a necessary ingredient in the Seder of life & we must accept that. But it need not overshadow or negate the overwhelming good things with which we are blessed. That’s why we eat just one helping of Maror, but drink 4 full cups of wine.
* The "4 Children" are in all of us. Sometimes we are motivated & "turned on" to Judaism; at other times we are rebellious, clueless or just plain apathetic. We have to work on ourselves every day in every way, but bottom line: We are all blessed children of the Almighty, come what may. That’s why the very last step in the Seder is "Nirtza – acceptance."
* Hashem can’t do ALL the work! Just as the slaves had to cry out to G-d before He came to our rescue & Moshe had to courageously confront Paro, so, we, too, must utilize all our strengths & capabilities to partner with Hashem &together reach new heights. In short: Don’t Wait – Create!
* The message of Matza: Be proud, yet humble. Moshe had to convince the people that they were meant for greater things, he had to raise our spirits. At the same time, we had to maintain our modesty & acknowledge that, great as we are & can be, G-d is even greater.
* Order, please. The Seder service begins with the reading of the 14 steps encompassing the various rituals of the night, a night we refer to as "Seder night." Although we often cannot see it, there is an order to history, just as chaos does not reign in the universe. Hashem has His plan, & we are a major part of it; every day we are coming closer to that elusive but inevitable day of glorious joy & unification: L’Shana Haba’a B’Yerushalayim!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
