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Beit Midrash
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This phrase from our Sedra, always read before Rosh Hashana, is quite mysterious; what, exactly, are the "hidden" things, & what are the "revealed" ones? And why are there little dots floating above part of this sentence?
Rashi is also puzzled by this, & explains that the "hidden things" refer to sins which are hidden from society – for which the sinner alone, & not the community, will be held responsible; or to those sins that we ourselves do, without even realizing that we have sinned. Alternatively, it may refer to those Jews - & they are many, alas – who do not even know they are Jews, but will somehow be brought back eventually by Hashem to the fold of Am Yisrael.
Indeed, hundreds of thousands – even millions - of people living around the world descend from Jews, yet haven’t any inkling where they come from. It is estimated that a full 20% of the Iberian Peninsula’s population – 10 million people! – have Sephardic Jewish ancestry.
But what about those curious little dots?
If we read the opening section of the parsha carefully, we see a pattern emerge. First, Moshe tells the people that everyone in the nation has a role to play: From the oldest to the youngest; from the highest rank of leadership to the simplest water-carrier or wood chopper; men & women; those born a Jew & those who convert to Judaism.
Then we are told that we are not "standing" here alone; we represent all of our ancestors who came before us, who paved the way for us to reach this moment. If we ask; "Why do we merit living in Israel, while our ancestors – who invariably were more pious than we are – did not live to see this day?" The answer is that we stand on their shoulders; we can emerge from the "pit" of Galut because they stood so tall for so long, until we, in this generation, finally climbed up on their backs & emerged into Geula.
Finally, we are told that we will be held responsible by our future generations if we "mess up;" if we forfeit the Land due to our failure to appreciate our good fortune, & forsake the covenant we took upon ourselves at Har Sinai to always follow Hashem & His Torah.
To appreciate the message being sent, we must "connect the dots" to see the full picture. We are one, indivisible body of the Jewish People. All of us, past, present & future. No one is left out, every single Jew is an integral part of the whole. On the one hand, it’s an awesome, even frightening thought that we carry so much on our shoulders. But at the same time, it’s reassuring & inspirational to know just how broad those shoulders are.
May they support us as we ask Hashem for a New Year.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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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.
