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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Passover - Pesach
- The Month of Nissan
But folks, everyone likes a nice intro! In fact, even our Chagim have an "intro" to set the mood for them before they begin. Consider: The High Holidays have the month of Elul, which prepares us for Teshuva & introspection. Purim has Ta’anit Esther; Tisha B’Av has the 3 Weeks. Pesach, I suggest, has Parshat HaChodesh. Always read before the month of Nisan, this last of the 4 special Parshiyot commands us to honor Nisan as month #1. In essence, our calendar - & our history - begins again.
This is the primary message of Pesach, is it not? No matter how gloomy things appear, no matter how hopeless the situation seems, we need never despair – there is always hope, always a second chance for us if we are ready to seize the moment & act upon it.
The Jews of Egypt had reached a dead end: They had sunk to a depth of behavior barely above the Egyptians; they were bitter, depressed & resigned to their fate. They did not even want to bring children into the world, knowing what awaited them. No slave, Chazal say, had ever escaped from Pharoah’s clutches. How would they, so downtrodden & despairing, find salvation?
But their pessimism proved unfounded. There’s always hope, because – like the moon – we are a resurgent people. We may wane, but we never disappear. From the most unlikely of places – Paro’s palace itself! – our hero would emerge. He would forsake the life of luxury to cast his lot with his enslaved brothers & evoke G-d’s saving hand. In short order, the tables would turn: We would become star players on history’s stage, while the mighty Egyptians would be reduced to a footnote in history.
Among all the holidays, only Pesach has a phenomenon called "Pesach Sheni." If you miss the 1st Pesach (for a valid reason) you can "make it up" a month later & bring the Korban Pesach in Iyar. Again, 2nd chances. All is not lost. There’s always an open door, if you really want in.
Pesach, then, is the Chag of "open-doors." Not just for Eliyahu, but for everyone - even the rebellious Rasha has a place at our Seder table! And so we open the Hagada by welcoming strangers to our Pesach celebration; indeed, close to 90% of the Jews in Israel attend a Seder each year! And now - Baruch Hashem, our societies are "opening" after more than a year of Corona closures.
So don’t be "plagued" by pessimism; have faith in G-d & "take a chance" – a second chance - to make it right.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Igrot Hare’aya Improving New Yishuv More Practical than Alternatives
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook #107
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.
