YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- 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
Load More
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Connecting Disciplines in Torah Study
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook 103 – part III
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale That Turned Out Not Happening – part II
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part I
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part I
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Date and Place: 11 Shevat 5670, Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Language of Instruction for Rav Kook’s Yeshiva – #325
Date and Place: 4 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part I
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part IV
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
