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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Recipient: Rabbi Yehuda Leib Felman, an uncle of Rav Kook.
Body: I will relate to the dispute between the leaders of Israel, who are kollel heads. (In those days, the members of the religious communities in Eretz Yisrael received support from the Diaspora. The fundraising and distribution were done based on communal affiliation, based on country of origin or religious subgroup. Each group was called a kollel.) I have been upset since I heard of the dispute from the person in charge of Kollel Chabad, a very distinguished man from Yerushalayim, may it be rebuilt, who asked for my advice on the matter. My opinion is that we must all exert ourselves fully to prevent any further divisiveness, as the existing acrimony is enough and unfortunate. It would have been better to do away with the "addresses" (of the offices of the kollel funds), just so that a division should not be made, by which Chevron will be by itself and Yerushalayim by itself.
It is even more certain that there should not be even the slightest resentment in the heart of some of our brethren, which diminishes the level of sanctity of Yerushalayim, heaven forbid, in relation to that of any of the other cities. That would be the same moral blemish that is behind the prohibition to offer sacrifices on altars outside of the Beit Hamikdash. The protest against the tribes of Gad and Reuven when they built an altar (Yehoshua 22) was all about not equating the sanctity of any place, even in Eretz Yisrael, to the sanctity of the place that Hashem chose and with which His Name is associated. Certainly it should not be diminished from its lofty status.
It is specifically Yerushalayim and no other city which "contains" all that is in Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, the sanctity of Chevron is included in that of Yerushalayim and not vice versa. This is the basis of the Zohar’s (Chayei Sarah 128b) statement that all of Eretz Yisrael is "folded up" under Yerushalayim, which explains the name s’dei hamachpela (the double field). So we see that even the sanctity of Chevron and Me’arat Hamachpela, which is its spiritual focal point, is included in Yerushalayim, and Yerushalayim is the source of Chevron’s sanctity. This is what Rav Betzalel Ashkenazi meant when he said (Shut 14): "If there is no Yerushalayim, there is no Chevron." While the Chatam Sofer (Shut II:233) did not understand how the two are related, it does seem to be based on this piece in the Zohar.
It is true that setting the calendar is not linked specifically to Yerushalayim, as it can be done anywhere in Eretz Yisrael (see Berachot 63a). It is just preferable to do it in the portion of the Tribe of Yehuda, because this is the place of "for His Presence you shall inquire," and the portion of Yehuda is in proximity to that holy place (see Sanhedrin 11b). Tosafot (ad loc.) asks about a contradiction between the gemara that derives the place of setting leap years from "from Zion shall emanate Torah" and another gemara, which derives it from "for His Presence shall you inquire." The idea is that "from Zion …" teaches about Eretz Yisrael in general, which is sometimes called Tziyon and Yerushalayim. The other pasuk refers to the portion of Yehuda. In any case, we learn from both gemarot that the main sanctity and stature of Eretz Yisrael depend on Yerushalayim, for the simple wording of the p’sukim are always very telling, and they speak of Zion and Yerushalayim. It must be that the sanctity of Yerushalayim shines throughout the Land and that Yehuda is prominent because of its proximity to it.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
31 - Praise for a Book on Agricultural Halacha
32 - Yerushalayim First and Foremost
33 - Yerushalayim First and Foremost part II
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Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
