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Beit Midrash
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Regarding the individual, the Kuzari (3:5) describes the pious person as one who knows how to put every matter in its proper place. In other words, a person is a microcosm of a whole world, and the foundation of this world is that man should have dominion over himself. Even in the realm of "the rule of Torah," the "before you" (plural) of the communal comes after the "see" (singular) of the individual. Even if the public makes sure to have laws, this law and that law are of no value if each individual will not abide by them.
We have special sensitivity toward matters of the community, but if the individuals who comprise it are not taken care of properly, the community will not have anything either. Sometimes we speak about a just society, and yes sometimes we afflict the individual with a variety of claims based on the contention that the needs of the multitudes have precedence. It would seem that the idea of a state demands of the individual to make sacrifices for the nation. But this is not [always] so. There is a halacha that if a whole city is told that they must give over one person to be killed in order to save the whole city, one must not hand him over (Tosefta, Terumot 7:20). The value of the individual is not reduced even when there are many corresponding to him.
However, there is also another side to the picture. Some people do not see the special standing of the community at all and think that it is only about the individual. They reason that if not everyone can be on the level of some of the individuals, there must not be value to the community. They forget that only within the context of a community can the accomplished individual emerge. To the extent that the individuals give their all to the communal effort, the community as a whole can become elevated.
We pray for "long life," life that is not fleeting but rather that traverses various periods. A person should not have an outlook that just focuses on the moment. Certainly, the community must not be impatient. Without a doubt, had there not been impatience in Israel, we would have been able to more do for the country with the hope that it would bring a significant turn for the better.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.