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We just marked Lag BaOmer, which focuses on the Torah of Rabbi Akiva and his disciples, including Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. They took part in the struggle to renew Jewish sovereignty under Bar Kochva’s leadership. We will soon mark the anniversary of the Six Day War, which reached its peak with the liberation of Yerushalayim. This extricated us from dangerously narrow borders and ushered in a period of great development, concretizing and strengthening the State of Israel. Finally, we will reach the holiday of the giving of the Torah.
Yerushalayim is the political capital of the State of Israel and as such of the entire Am Yisrael. It is the spiritual center and the focus of Am Yisrael’s longings. The process of establishing the State was significantly advanced on 5 Iyar 5708, but also was significantly strengthened on 28 Iyar 5727. The State of Israel without Yerushalayim as its official and practical capital is like a body without a soul. We can demonstrate this from King David as well (David ben Gurion followed his lead).
The Torah sets an interesting time for the building of the Beit Hamikdash, which turned Yerushalayim into the dwelling place of the Divine Presence, which initially benefitted Am Yisrael but eventually (as Yeshayahu prophesied) the entire world. The Torah writes as a precursor for choosing the Beit Hamikdash’s location as follows: "You shall cross the Jordan and inhabit the Land that Hashem your G-d is giving you as an inheritance, and He will give you respite from all of your enemies around you and you will live securely" (Devarim 12:10). Similarly, Shmuel (II, 7) in an introduction to David’s efforts to build the Beit Hamikdash, writes of Hashem giving respite from all of his surrounding enemies, and the prophet Natan agrees with him in principle that this was the time for the project of making Yerushalayim the spiritual center of the nation to commence. It is difficult that the ensuing section of Shmuel (ch. 8-10) provides extensive details of additional wars. So why did David and Natan think that the time for building the Temple had come?
We suggest that respite from enemies does not mean an end to all fighting (which will occur only in the times of Mashiach). Rather the fact that David enjoyed full autonomy and the world viewed Israel as such in his times (see ch. 5) provide sufficient respite, allowing Yerushalayim to be the nation’s political and spiritual center. Then David moved to bring the Holy Ark to the city (ch. 6) and began planning the Beit Hamikdash and dwelling place of the Divine Presence.
Let us pray that the process of our return to national glory will continue from Lag BaOmer to Yom Yerushalayim and finally to Shavuot. May the State of Israel be not only a political anchor for world Jewry but also a place for Hashem’s Presence, which comes when the people willingly accept the Torah.
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.
