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Those who are pessimistic and dour by nature will view no news as being a negative thing, for it merely continues and confirms the negative view of everyday life events. So, no news is really the conundrum of the glass being half full and also half empty at the same time. No news is like beauty – it exists and is defined by the eyes of the beholder.
Since the advent of 24-hour seven day a week news cycle of broadcast television and the Internet, there is really no day of no news. For these networks must have "breaking" news to be able to continue their incessant broadcasting. The definition of news today has been significantly expanded to include a great deal of nonsense, and, in many cases, even complete fabrication and fancy. News has become, in the main, a matter of opinion, and we all know that there never will be any shortage of opinions among human beings.
So, news is really not news, but it is a great deal of opinion, bias, and bitterness that brings divisiveness amongst the listeners whom it is meant to serve.
Here in Israel, where, unfortunately, periodically we are confronted with violence and battles – and when that happens we all become glued to the news outlets on a 24/7 basis – we welcome with relief the fact that there is no news. There will always be politics to discuss, members of our Knesset to interview and discussions about money in Israel, as it regularly plays itself out in our wonderful little country and deeply argumentative society.
For over a year, every day we were kept abreast of the ravages of the Corona virus here in Israel. We were told in minute detail how many cases of sickness occurred daily and of the tragedies engulfing thousands of Israeli families because of the morbidity of the disease. However, now that a vast majority of the population has become vaccinated and inoculated against disease and the number of cases has become infinitesimal, the Coronavirus hardly makes the news programs here at all. So, once again, we could say with relief that no news is really good news. As all the health restrictions are being relaxed, the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic begin to fade from our memories, though I am certain that they will never completely disappear and be forgotten and eliminated.
I am a recovering news junkie. For decades I was addicted to hearing the news at least six or seven times a day while in the United States. When I moved to Israel I brought my addiction with me and continued to listen regularly to the hourly news broadcasts here on Israeli radio. However gradually I began to recover from the addiction. Finally, I can restrict my listening to the news to one or at the most two broadcasts each day. I have discovered that by attending synagogue regularly, I am privy to all the news that one needs to know simply from the kinds of the conversations that others carry on with me. Even during the recent war with Gaza, I restricted my listening to the news to twice a day – morning and evening. By not listening to the news, I have discovered that I have become calmer, more focused on my work and projects and in a better frame of mind then when I was totally addicted to the news, which invariably is not good news. Good news does not attract advertisers and listeners to news networks.
My theory in life now is that whatever I will have to know will sooner or later be filtered down to me. So, to me, no news is really good news and any news that I do not have to hear or deal with is a plus for my psychological well-being and lower blood pressure.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
