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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
The Torah writes: "Make two silver trumpets, and they shall be for calling the congregation and moving the encampment … When a war will come to your land … you will blow the trumpets, and you will be remembered before Hashem and be saved from your enemies. And on your happy day, your holidays and your new months, you shall blow the trumpets over your sacrifices … and it will be a remembrance for you before Hashem" (Bamidbar 10:1-10).
Let us take a closer look at the three purposes of the trumpets. The first is a sign of leadership. It is obvious that a political leader needs to use symbols to demonstrate that he is chosen among the people and has many elements of power. Rashi cites Chazal that they would blow the trumpets before Moshe like a king. On the other hand, the Midrash says that the trumpets were made of silver, and not gold, because Hashem "wants to spare the money of Israel" (Midrash Aggada, B’ha’alotcha 10). Public funds should indeed be spent carefully even when being spent on a proper cause. The gemara (Yoma 3b) says that the silver used had been owned by the leader. Although this opinion is not accepted, it is still telling as to the high moral level desired of the leadership in relation to finances.
We saw also that a teruah was blown when there was danger from the enemy. The word teruah is taken from the word for broken. Therefore, on Rosh Hashana we also blow both a shevarim (big breaks) and teruah (smaller breaks). Such broken and up-and-down blasts have always been the sound of a siren, warning of various dangers. The sound that comes out at such times is also there to call out for moral contemplation and warning against arrogance and complacency, which can bring on calamities.
The trumpets were also used to sound the sound of joy at happy and successful times, using it to express gratitude to Hashem. Ibn Ezra says that the "day of joy" refers to "returning from the land of the enemy, or when you defeat the enemy who attacked you, and you set a holiday like Purim and Chanuka."
After 2,000 years of not having the opportunity for such celebrations, our generation had the z’chut of experiencing the ingathering of exiles from the lands of the enemy. So many years had gone by since the last military victories, and indeed we witnessed unprecedented victories by the standards of any nation. Let us pray that we will merit leadership, who might deserve the outward signs of its dominion but is careful to minimize them due to concern for the public purse. We should be careful of the dangers of sin and conceit. We should also remember to use the tools we have to thank Hashem for the great miracles with which He has blessed us.
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.
