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Beit Midrash
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It is important for us to understand what it means to be a "free Jew in our Land." What makes us bnei chorin (free people)? Leaving Egypt meant that a nation of slaves became a nation of bnei chorin. Chazal taught us that we read "charut al haluchot" (lit., engraved on the Tablets) (Shemot 32:16) as "cheirut (freedom) al haluchot," for "only one who is hogeh (tries to understand deeply) in Torah is a free man" (Kalla Rabbati 5:3). The Pesikta expands it to "one who occupies himself in Torah is a free man," which makes it less demanding to be included.
The Maharal (intro. to Tiferet Yisrael) explains that one is considered free by occupying himself in words of Torah even if he accidentally learns the halachot incorrectly. It is the exercise of being involved in Torah that is liberating. Both agree that leaving Egypt was insufficient to be free; it was necessary to receive the Torah at Sinai.
What is the connection between Torah study and freedom? One can qualify the servitude of an eved ivri (a Jewish servant, who is less subservient than an eved C’na’ani) as follows. He relinquishes the freedom to choose his work and his mobility. He also is not able to choose who his mate will be. His life (during those years) is dedicated to increasing the prosperity of his master. However, perhaps the most significant thing is that he relinquishes the ability to make decisions that can further his spiritual state. Because his master controls his activities, he gives up on his ability to make his own decisions. (In some cases, that can be positive, because some people became avadim because they did not know how to make good decisions.) The situation in Egypt was worse, as they did not have the freedom even to act as normal human beings. So why didn’t leaving Egypt make them free?
All of the special presents that we received at Sinai turned us into bnei chorin. First, we were given the opportunity to sanctify ourselves. This was actually a condition for receiving the Torah (see Shemot 19:6-19, which uses the root kadosh three times). The Torah also connects this sanctity to the process of setting boundaries, literally around Sinai, but more fundamentally in that preparing spiritually to not only receive but also live according to the Torah requires religious and moral boundaries.
But how do all these boundaries included in accepting the Torah cause freedom? We are limited as to where we can go and what we can and must do! We will continue with this theme next week. After Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron, we are better able to understand that the "Work liberates" sign in Auschwitz was the biggest lie and that those who gave their lives so that we could live in our own country taught us about the sanctity of life.
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.
