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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
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- The Ten Days of Repentance
The Heavenly voice Elisha ben Avuya heard emanating from a secret place was strange. On the one hand, the whole world is called to teshuva (repentance). That is a concept that we know and appreciate. But what is the idea that someone specific is uninvited from seeking to repent?
A person sees the mud and the slime in which he has sunk by means of his sins; he recognizes that his path leads only to destruction. A person also "hears" that although he is deeply entrenched in the gates of impurity, there is still a path that is open to return. How did the once wise Elisha ben Avuya believe that he was the single solitary person that has no path upon which to return, but rather he must drink from the "cup of poison" until he finishes it? Why does he accept this decree without trying to appeal? The whole world – yes; he – no?
Apparently, this Heavenly voice, whose beginning is true but whose end is deceptive, is something that all sinners experience. Whoever is so deep into the slime of sin sees himself as irreparably on the path that leads to death, even when he looks at others and believes that they do have a way to save themselves through repentance, and it is only he who cannot. He does not consider that if there is teshuva for everyone, he cannot be the only exception. It does not occur to him that this perception is but the idea of the evil inclination and that if he just focuses on repentance, it will be accepted gladly. Indeed the evil inclination is active before the sin, to cause him to sin, and after the sin, to convince him that he is particularly incapable of doing teshuva.
Every sin creates an imaginary set of ropes and shackles that tie him down and prevent him from changing his course. He believes that his circumstances, the friends with whom he interacts, the public opinion that pervades his surroundings, and the things he said and the actions he did yesterday, set his course for the future. How could he turn his back on his sinful friends? How could he act differently than the philosophies he espoused yesterday? How can he divorce himself from his past and turn into a new person?
He should realize, though, that one who comes to defile himself will have the door opened to do so (Avoda Zara 55a). From the fact that he hears that others have the opportunity to return, even though they do not feel it, he should see that this is normal. Things must come from the person himself; there are not really ropes that hold him down, but they are just spider webs that can be easily severed.
The Ten Days of Repentance are the period in which Hashem can be found in our proximity (Rosh Hashana 18a). There is no better time for teshuva. Let us sever the ropes of deception and pray sincerely: "Return us in full teshuva before You." May we have a good year, one of teshuva, liberation, and salvation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
