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Beit Midrash
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- Ein Ayah
Condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 9:77
Gemara: "Like a tapuach (which may or may not be an apple tree, and it is not clear which variety) among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men …" (Shir Hashirim 2:3). Why is Israel compared to an apple tree? It is to teach you that just as an apple tree has its fruit begin to grow before its leaves, so too Israel said "we will do" before "we will hear."
Ein Ayah: Lower levels in the realm of the physical and spiritual are arranged opposite the higher levels in two manners.
Sometimes higher levels develop through the lower levels, which requires the latter to exist before the former. There are also times that the higher levels appear from the fundamental light, without need to be preceded by the more basic levels. Even in that case, the lower levels are important, and they come along and protect and strengthen the higher levels and allow for connections between practical life and the higher levels.
Proper actions make up the upper portion of the spiritual apparatus and are the manifestation of the Torah within life, leaving its insignia of sanctity on the world. It is not that the actions remind us of some idea to recognize and remember. Rather, proper actions are the high content according to the way Hashem set the world. They become partners in Creation and improve existence. This is the special ability Israel was given by receiving a Torah full of holy actions that exceed any halachic or moral ideas alone.
The higher "fruit" do not come from the levels beneath them, even the highest preparatory level, which is hearing. This is the idea of the fruit coming before the leaves. From the idea of basing the existence on the source of the life of the world, there also flows a light of wisdom that includes hearing and listening. This adorns, strengthens, and broadens the revelation of the higher level of action, even though they come afterward. That is how Israel resembles the apple tree.
Natural Spiritual Simplicity
Condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 9:78
Gemara: A heretic saw that Rav was involved in halachic research and had his toe under his foot, pressing it until it bled. He said: You are a hasty nation, who put your mouth before your ears (i.e., said "We will do and hear"), and you continue with your hastiness. First you should have heard; if you could accept it, you would accept it; if not, you would not accept it. Rav answered: For us, for whom it was enough to go on trust, the pasuk says: "The simplicity of the upright guides them" (Mishlei 11:3). About those people who prefer tricks, it says: "The deviousness of the unfaithful will devastate them" (ibid.).
Ein Ayah: When one sees the highest focus on the spiritual overcome all of the physical feelings, to the point that it cancels them out, he can view that show of strength in two ways. It could be a foreign matter that breaks the natural manner of a person’s life. If so, one should be careful that it not go beyond a reasonable degree, so that it not ruin his physical life. The other way is for the spiritual to complete the physical, so that the physical joins in with the spiritual and in that way loses its separate identity. In such a healthy manner, life is safe from related dangers. To the contrary, it must, by nature, add strength by returning the physical to its foundation and source.
Upright people feel that their natures are supplemented by increased spirituality, which comes from the sanctity of Torah in its highest form. That is why the simplicity of being accepting is a guide. Those who are repelled by such a nature, which could have been in their souls, are like those who betray the potential to be upright.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
