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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Laws of Pesach
- The Spiritual Meaning
I have another theory, but let’s first start with a classic question: What, exactly, does Matza represent? Is it a symbol of slavery, or of freedom?
Now, you might insist that Matza is all about slavery. After all, it is called "poor bread" & is meant to remind us of the meager fare which the downtrodden slaves ate during their servitude. It lacks substance & pretty much lacks taste, being only slightly tastier than the box it comes in.
At the same time, we could make a strong case for Matza being all about freedom. The fact that we loyally observed Hashem’s dictate to bake matzot to take with us on our journey testifies that we were now under G-d’s command, & not Paro’s. And our haste in preparing this half-baked food signifies our zeal, our excitement at joining Hashem & following Him wherever He leads us.
So which is it?
There is one clear way to settle this question. The rabbis directed us to lean when eating "freedom foods," but refrain from leaning while eating "slave foods." And so we lean when drinking the 4 Cups (no, that’s not a singing group!) but do not lean when eating the Maror. What do we do when eating Matza – we lean! There you have it!
I want to suggest that the unique dual nature of matza provides us with a very vital lesson in life. There are always two ways of looking at anything – the positive & the negative. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is our attitude towards life & our reaction to the trials & tribulations which life throws our way. It’s our choice to make; it’s our reaction to be placed on every situation.
B’ezrat Hashem, we are coming out of the Corona pandemic this Pesach; society is opening & life is slowly coming back to "normal." Many have suffered & died, many lives have been hard-hit. Yet at the same time, we are IY"H winning one of history’s most comprehensive, most challenging battles! Creating a vaccine, providing it to millions around the globe & saving society is nothing short of a miracle – if we choose to see it that way.
In a sense, we were all "enslaved" for the past year; now we are getting our freedom back. It’s a good time to wave the Matza as a flag of liberation & remember Hashem’s promise to us: "Lean on me, and I shall save you."
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.
