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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Tanach
- Guidance on Studying Tanach
In Seder Olam Rabba (ch. 26), our opening of Yechezkel’s prophecy is explained to be 30 years from the finding of the sefer Torah in the Beit Hamikdash, and this is the way Targum Yonatan translates this pasuk. The finding of the sefer Torah was a traumatic event, described in Melachim II, 22. The officers of the righteous King Yoshiyahu found it, and this helped arouse the king and his officers to repent, with the help of the prophetess Chulda. This took place during the eighteenth year of Yoshiyahu’s reign, which also was yovel (the jubilee year). Mahari Kra, a disciple of Rashi, makes the calculation, based on the dating we know of the various kings, that the fifth year of Yehoyachin’s exile was 30 years since the event of finding the sefer Torah. Rashi also finds a hint of the connection between the timing of Yechezkel’s prophecies and the timing of the yovel in the pasuk: "It was in the 25th year of our exile, on Rosh Hashana on the tenth of the month" (Yechezkel 40:1). Rashi cites the Rabbis as saying that only during the yovel year do we have a beginning of the year that takes place on the tenth of the month (see Vayikra 25:9).
Let us now turn to the general question – why does Tanach employ dating that at times does not clarify the timing but confuses it and does not always maintain chronological consistency? It is possible that all of these unusual phenomena hint to us that Tanach is a work in which time is not the determining factor. Tanach is a written in a lofty manner, whose source is divine, and deals with truths that are connected to lofty spiritual worlds, which are above the physical world. Time is part of the material world, whereas prophecy is above it. When we are discussing how Hashem runs the world, there is no difference between the past, the present, and the future. Prophecies that are dealing with events from the distant past are prophecies that are dealing with lessons that impact us for future generations and transcend the rules of time.
In this material world, we will continue to thank Hashem for the miracles that happened to our fathers and to us in those days at these times.
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.
