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Beit Midrash
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The righteous person in Judaism does not suffice with someone staying in his "comfort zone" and saving himself. Moshe said: "Moshe and a hundred like him can die, and let not one person from Israel be hurt in his fingernail" (Devarim Rabba Ki Tavo 10). Moshe knew his worth and importance to Bnei Yisrael and still was not concerned about his own safety, spiritual or physical, if he had the opportunity to help others.
There was a horrible occurrence recently that shakes one who hears about it. In one of the agricultural communities in the Sharon region, a sefer Torah was brazenly defiled. It makes us think: how is it possible for a Jew to stoop so low? On second thought, it makes one think if we are not also to blame. Maybe we also do not respect a sefer Torah sufficiently, which is what allows someone else to take the matter so far as to do what this person did.
Life is made up of introduction after introduction. Even Simchat Torah, with all of its varieties of excitement, is a preparation for the days of action – the days of learning in yeshiva, with the hope of elevating ourselves. "They shall draw water in happiness" (Yeshayahu 12:3). We should not be satisfied with what we have. Rather, we should always strive for further elevation. If one does not go up, he goes down, and, in fact, even remaining stationary is a fall, considering one’s potential.
We are standing before the "days of actions" of your second year in yeshiva. You achieved a lot in your first year, but you can achieve even more in this second year. After all, you have grown and have more of a basis of knowledge. You are no longer those youngsters who had trouble with the gemara’s text. There are greater demands, because there is greater responsibility.
An individual who learns not only impacts himself, which is also something of great value, but rather the whole world benefits from him. The influence of those who learn Torah on their friends is great, and you have responsibility to provide that influence.
There is Torah, and there is the approach to Torah. Greater is one who serves a Torah scholar than one who learns Torah (Berachot 7b) [because he can learn from the scholar’s actions]. Therefore everyone has to be careful about his behavior toward others and strengthen the social fabric of the yeshiva. Help, encourage each other, etc. This is your task now.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.