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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: It is a major principle that every sheker that does not have a spark of truth in its inception cannot raise its head with chutzpa. Therefore, all the beginnings of sheker, which are themselves truths, are included within the information that makes up the holy letters. Emet is different [in that the letter that represents it is not the first letter of the word, but the last]. It is only from the end of a matter that one can tell that its beginning is actually truth. It is that ending that leaves the good impression. That is why shin represents sheker because its positive part is in the beginning, whereas tav represents truth because the important part is at the end, as the letter tav is at the end of emet.
The difference between emet and sheker can be compared to the lower and higher "avenues" of the universe. Inanimate objects do not [naturally] have one part of them innately connected to another part of them. If parts are joined, it is by chance. If one separates granules from a stone, each one stands as an independent object. Even when the rock was "whole" and connected, it was no more than by mere chance that they were next to each other.
When we go up in the chain of objects, to the vegetable kingdom, there is a more fundamental connection. Nourishment already goes from one part to another, as the organic nature already starts showing its signs. The system of life encompasses it from its deepest roots to its uppermost foliage.
When we advance to the animal kingdom, the level of interdependence and unity becomes of an even higher level. There are different levels amongst animals, as one can cut off the tail of a lizard, and it will shutter. The higher the creature, the more centralized, and the top and the bottom are more connected. This is the secret of their higher completeness.
In the spiritual world, sheker is spread out everywhere, and every thought of falsehood is displayed independently in its deceitful character. Truth, the foundation of life, in contrast, is the ingredient of higher life, and therefore is more all-inclusive, as it flows from the light of the Creator, Who combines all. That is why sheker is made up of things that are close together in a shallow manner and is destroyed when it tries to spread out. Emet requires that there is a unity between the beginning and the end, for otherwise there can be no real connection, like the letters aleph, mem, and tav. In this world of darkness, it is more common to find sheker.
Emet, though, is able to stand independently, without help from things to lean on. Even if truth would not find a place by all people in the world, it would still survive and would ultimately overcome. However, sheker cannot stand, and the reason it lasts as long as it does is that there are people who connect themselves to it. Even something that has one leg can stand if it is nailed to the wall. So sheker is like something with one leg, which sways like a drunkard, whereas emet is like a stable rectangle and therefore stands in a way that falsehood is not
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael
#222 Date and Place: 2 Elul 5669 (1909), Rechovot
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Raffle of Property in Eretz Yisrael for Tzedaka
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: – #220
P'ninat Mishpat A Commercial Rental for a Closed Business – part II
based on ruling 80047 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
