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It is told that the first Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, HaRav Yitzchak Isaak HaLevy Herzog, of saintly blessed memory, displayed amazing faith during World War II. In the summer of 1942, Nazi German armies had made their way to Egypt and were poised to conquer the Holy Land as well. But Rabbi Herzog said, "There is nothing to fear! We know that there will never be a third destruction!"
Similarly, Rav Hershel Schachter (Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel in Yeshiva University) writes in his work B'ikvei HaTzon that during Israel's War of Independence, Rav Y. Z. Soloveitchik thought to leave Jerusalem and move to Switzerland. Rav Herzog came to him and attempted to convince him that he should not leave and not be afraid, because of the accepted tradition that there would be no third destruction. Rav Soloveitchik responded that he, too, had an accepted tradition from his father, that when one is shot at, he must run away. Apparently, what he meant was that though he agreed there would not be a third destruction, this affects only the nation as a whole – but no specific individual has a guarantee that he would not be killed, and therefore, he wished to leave.
What is the source for this tradition that Rav Herzog stated? It is found in the words of Nachmanides in his work "The Book of Redemption," where he makes clear that there will be only two destructions and that the deliverance following the second one will be final. As follows:
There are two Torah passages of grave punishments (tokhecha) that the Jewish nation can expect when and if they sin. We can see from the verses that they refer, respectively, to the destructions of the First and Second Temples and the following exiles. In the end of Vayikra (26,15) we read that the Jews violated G-d's covenant, meaning that they worshiped idols, and the punishments there are war and exile for a specified number of years (verse 34). Afterwards the Torah promises a relatively small consolation, wherein G-d will remember His covenant with the Patriarchs; no mention is made of a return to the Land. This all applies to the periods before and after the First Destruction, after which only the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin returned.
Later, in Parashat Ki Tavo in D'varim, we see that the reference is to the Second Destruction and the redemption that followed it. No mention is made of how long this exile would last – corresponding to our centuries-long Exile, with no specific end-date – nor was it specified that the sins included idol-worship. The Torah simply states: "If you do not hearken to the voice of Hashem your G-d to make sure to keep His laws and statutes…" (28,15) – for in truth they did not worship idols and only committed certain sins. The stated punishment is that we would be scattered throughout the nations (verse 64), as in fact occurred following the Second Destruction, and the promised redemption includes a full return of the nation to its Land (30,3-5). Furthermore, the Torah promises that the enemies who exiled us will be destroyed (verse 7); two enemies, alluding to Esav and Yishmael, are mentioned here.
In short, the Torah refers to two destructions, and the redemption following the second one will complete and final, with no further destruction of the Jewish Nation to follow it.
And how do we know that we are currently in the Final Redemption? The Talmud states clearly (Sanhedrin 98a):
"There can be no clearer sign of the Redemption than the blossoming of the Land of Israel…
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
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.
