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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Recipient: Rav Kook’s 14 year-old son, Tzvi Yehuda
Context: A short response, apparently to a letter by Tzvi Yehuda in which he inquired about how to broaden one’s ideas.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
27 - An Interested Father
28 - Are Languages the Solution?
29 - Three Short Letters to the Council of Rechovot
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True realization becomes clear to a person when he identifies the foundation of his inner rectitude. For a Jew, it depends on the degree that the light of Torah, in action and in thought, spread broadly through his heart and that fine attributes are deeply rooted in his soul. Then he will be full of the pleasantries that come from the divine aura and delight in Hashem and His goodness with satiating happiness, quiet tranquility, and internal bliss, full of confidence and power. "Those who know Your Name will rely upon You, for You, Hashem, did not abandon those who seek You" (Tehillim 9:11).
When one’s internal foundation is filled with the richness of a life of truth and justice, all that he gathers into his midst from the outside is absorbed properly. Bad elements, which are like the impurities of precious metals, are cast off by the power of internal life, and that which is clear and pure remains. These are things that are collected from every matter, including those from the depths of darkness, in which there is always something that emits flashes of light. Just as the places of greatest darkness and despair are before Hashem, so are the hearts of man (see Mishlei 15:11).
However, since man should desire to share, to the best of his ability, the good he possesses with others, both to his nation and all of humanity, he is definitely more capable of explaining and influencing others when he adds languages and modes of expression. Indeed, everything that Hashem uttered is divided into 70 languages (see Shabbat 88b). But it is wrong to try to replace the intellectual purification process, which is a foundation of one’s persona, with the development of linguistic skills, whether it be on a national or a personal basis. This reduces one’s intellectual/spiritual standing.
Names are the beginnings of languages, as it says: "Adam called names …" (Bereishit 2:20). The nefilim (ibid. 6:4), who caused the world’s spiritual level to fall, were called "the courageous who had always been the men of name (shem)." This hints at the destruction (shimamon) they brought to the world. They thought that their unique ability to speak made them powerful (see Tehillim 12:5).
When Hashem desired to fill all the dark portions of the world with light, he appeared to the choicest human being ever (Moshe Rabbeinu), who referred to himself as having a serious speech impediment (see Shemot 6:12). A similar phenomenon occurred in a much later generation, to someone who drew close by drinking from the "trusted waters" of the master of prophets, who was "drawn out from the waters." [David] went to defeat the impure Plishti (Goliath), who cursed Hashem and His army, without heavy armor and weapons. The diminutive David said: "I do not have experience with these" when Shaul wanted to give him his battle gear. He took just five stones from the stream basin and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. The slingshot and five stones represent the Five Books of Moshe and the first five words of Shema, which are brought together by the word "one" (the last word of Shema) by the "shepherds" (leaders) who are found in every generation and explain the depths of the one G-d’s wisdom and the Torah’s light. The modest slingshot and stones do not compare to Goliath’s heavy armor, sword, and spear, or his chutzpa. Because David came in the name of the G-d of the armies of Israel, whom Goliath had scorned, the stone was embedded in his forehead, and David took Goliath’s sword in his hand. This message is appropriate in this generation of ikveta d’meshicha (leading up to Mashiach), in which the enemies of Hashem scorned the coming of Mashiach.
[Applied in summary, it is not necessary for Tzvi Yehuda to learn languages, which are often good tools for influencing others, if he develops spiritual greatness.]
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat A Commercial Rental for a Closed Business – part II
based on ruling 80047 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part II
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Multiple Agreements and Parties – part IV
based on final ruling of 80082 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya The State of Religion in Eretz Yisrael – #277 – part II
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 9 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya The State of Religion in Eretz Yisrael – #277 – part I
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 9 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part II
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
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.
