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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: As long as the pure sanctity of accepting the yoke of Hashem’s kingdom is not severed from a person’s soul, his spirit receives stability and confirmation. All the things in the world that are against what a person desires, whether things that already happened or things that are in the course of happening, do not need to upset a person to the depths of his spirit to the point that he cannot maintain control over the actions he takes. The reason is that he knows that in the final analysis, Hashem is good to all of His creations, and that everything that transpires is an "agent" of Divine Providence in the world. Thus, they all serve a positive role as matters ultimately play out.
When a person contemplates Hashem’s role in a positive manner, his temper in the face of upsetting events is alleviated. Ripping one’s garments usually occurs when one is incensed about something that occurred in the past. This is in line with proper ripping of clothes [which is done by a mourner after his relative dies (i.e., in the past)].
The following is the reason that getting furious is considered like worshipping an idol. The beginning of extreme anger comes from a total divorce between the person and his positive feeling that Hashem is bestowing good upon him. When the fury is so bad that it breaks forth beyond the normal bounds of measured thought and action, it infiltrates his being like venom. This feeling sets a nest within him until horrible enmity breaks forth from within the troubled spirit. Since it has the potential of affecting any part of the person’s interactions in his life, it is thus capable of bringing him even to idol worship, which is nurtured from the foundation of anger at the heart of his warped view of the world around him.
Even though the beginning of this problematic behavior of wild tantrums is a matter of surprise, which is not within the realms of reasoned judgment, the continual destruction that follows is like a "craft" of the evil inclination, in that it sets a bad mode of behavior. The person loses all connection to norms of holy behavior. As such, if his negative spirit leads him to the extreme, in the direction of idol worship, he will not be able to oppose this tendency.
One who rips his clothes is reacting improperly to the past; one who breaks his utensils is misguided regarding the present; and one who throws away his money is reacting to a feeling that he is not ready to deal with a future that goes against his desire. In each case, he falls under the dominion of the evil inclination, which begins to control his actions, [with each day bringing another unfortunate course of action] until he follows the evil inclination’s urging to commit idol worship.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part I
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Departure of an Uncle to Eretz Yisrael
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Vol. I, #1 , p. 1-2 – part II
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts