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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Recipient: Shaul Chona Kook, Rav Kook’s younger brother (by approximately 14 years; he was 18 at the time). R. Shaul Chona made aliya as a young adult and was a scholarly (in Jewish studies) businessman who lived in Tel Aviv and was active in municipal affairs and in the Mizrachi religious Zionist movement.
Greeting: Peace and blessing, guarded and set out before my dear and beloved brother, the excellent young man, sharp, learned, and charming, Master Shaul Chona HaKohen shlita. May Hashem bless you and grant you success in all of your undertakings. May your heart be widened by His Torah. May you and those who assist you be blessed with abundant peace.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
4 - A Smaller Shas
5 - Advice from an Older Brother
6 - The Aderet’s Disputed Rabbinic Move
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The name and recollection of the city (a majority of whose population was Jewish in those days) is engraved in my heart in a loving manner from the fresh time of my childhood. It is the place in which I made my first steps with the comradery of holy people, as it is a place full of wise scholars, with sharp minds and extensive Torah knowledge, fearers of Hashem and those who respect His Name (Malachi 3:16). Being around such people widened my heart and also caused me to have a head start in developing the skills of my childhood, with Hashem’s help.
You, my beloved brother, are living there. Certainly you are only making your company with those who are G-d-fearing and bring respect to His Name, who dedicate their lives to His Torah and awe of Him, the people who are great and dear, the gems of the wise men of the city, may Hashem protect them.
Learn to make many acquisitions in the realm of wisdom, to learn sources, understand them, and review what you have learned with desire and love. Acquire mastery of the gemara with Tosafot’s commentary in order, treating the main thing as the main thing and the less important as less important. I have never seen a truly significant talmid chacham whose main focus was not on gemara and Rishonim, learning and reviewing literally according to the order of the gemara, especially at the earlier stages of life. Please forgive me, my beloved brother – it is possible that you do not need these urgings. It is just that I remember that I did need them when I was younger. My heart felt that I had to share these things as I was conversing with you.
Praises to Hashem, all is good with us. May Hashem allow to have blessings in the future as well, and even increase His kindness toward and mercy upon us. I am expecting that your letters will now come on a regular basis, so that you can share all that is good with you, and "there is nothing good but Torah" (Avot 6:3). Hashem should strengthen you to spend all your time by the doorways of His Torah, and you shall strengthen yourself and be a successful man with a good name and with a standing of glory. These are the prayers and hope of your brother, with a love of the spirit, who looks forward to your success. So shall it be His will.
The letter continues with a request to send regards to two friends of Rav Kook, apparently from his Smorgon days, and an intricate halachic discourse.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Semi-solicited Advice to Calm Down Petach Tikva
#227 Date and Place: 8 Tishrei 5669, Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael
#222 Date and Place: 2 Elul 5669 (1909), Rechovot
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 Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
Date and Place: 5 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot (probably)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
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(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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: 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)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
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.
