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Beit Midrash
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We will soon commemorate Lag Ba’omer, which according to many, highlights the bravery of the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva – who were the fighters of Bar Kochva – who were apparently killed in their battle against the Roman Empire (because they did not treat each other with respect). Their fight was done as part of a heroic effort to restore independence to Israel. Lag Ba’omer also commemorates the sanctity of the Torah, especially in light of the revealing of its inner elements by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his disciples over the generations. The flame of sanctity of Bar Yochai, commemorated with the symbolic lighting in Meiron, has only a weak connection to the "culture" of pollution and dangerous bonfires that are lit throughout the country.
The revealing of secrets of the Torah was strengthened tremendously from the time that Rav Yosef Karo and his colleagues, and finally the Arizal and his students, returned to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Safed. Rav Shlomo Alkabetz, the student and friend of Rav Yosef Karo regarding matters of Torah secrets, left for the Jewish people his beautiful poem, "Lecha Dodi," which deals with longings for liberation from both a political and internal, spiritual perspective. This combination is based on the idea that the book and the sword came down together.
The pioneer "sword-holders" of our times (most of whom had little to do with our holy books), came to Israel as part of an attempt to build an independent Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael. They adopted the theme of bonfires with a feeling of connection to Bar Kochva’s fighters, but without a connection to Bar Yochai and his disciples.
We have to look at the connection between the bonfires and kumzitzes of the Israeli pioneers, captured in the famous poem by Chaim Cheffer, "Dudu," and between the holy fire of the study of Torah. We will continue next week. In the meantime we will try to strengthen our approach of connecting the sword and the book – which represents our attempt to strengthen the State of Israel from both a national and a spiritual, Torah-based perspective.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
