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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
Lessons
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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.
