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- Igrot Hare’aya
13
Recipient: The residents of Ekron, especially its council
Body: I have a personal need to inform your honors what my heart is feeling, which you may view as the wounds inflicted by one who loves. However, this is the reason I cannot hold back from speaking. The obligation of the mitzva of rebuke is incumbent upon every individual in Israel, and certainly for someone who is a servant (i.e., rabbi) of the masses like me.
Igrot Hare’aya (195)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
41 - Protesting Chilul Shabbat
42 - Arrangements with a Mashgiach
43 - Starting a New Yeshiva in Yafo
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When I became aware of this, I was irate and screamed from the depths of my heart: "Woe, what have we come to?" Is it possible that in an upstanding community in Eretz Yisrael like Ekron, there could be such a denigration of the crown of Israel, the crown of Torah and the honor of Torah scholars? And what a Torah scholar did they oppose?! An outstanding Torah scholar, who is crowned with such fine personal attributes and pleasantness! It is fitting to cling to him with love and inestimable honor!
Please see to it, dear brothers, to stand in this breach. Remember that awe of Hashem includes awe of Torah scholars (Kiddushin 57a), and the awe of your teacher should resemble the awe of Hashem (Avot 4:12).
The sinner who spoke out should consider his steps, if he desires to protect his life from Heavenly punishment that, Heaven forbid, should not strike him. He should humbly approach the honorable rabbi, shlita, to request forgiveness in front of other people, as is written. He should admit that he sinned, repent and be forgiven, as who knows how to avoid mistakes?
I know how much my close friend, the rabbi, will oppose my letter, but I have no choice but to write it, for the welfare of the public, despite his desire, which is always dear to me. May Hashem send you blessing and great peace, and may we see together the crown of the righteous raised in the Holy Land when Hashem brings salvation to His nation, speedily in our days, Amen.
Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part I
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Adar 5785
Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
Date and Place: 5 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot (probably)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Iyar 5785
An Eiruv for Nascent Tel Aviv
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: – #242
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | 16 Tammuz 5784
Concern for Communal Kashrut Standards – #288, 290
Date and Place: 4 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Tevet 5785
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Connecting Disciplines in Torah Study
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook #103 – part II
Sivan 8 5782
Connecting Disciplines in Torah Study
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook 103 – part III
Sivan 15 5782
Limiting Exorbitant Lawyer’s Fees – part I
(Based on ruling 81120 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Tishrei 29 5783
Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part II
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Sivan 15 5782
The Laws Relating to Converts
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
21. The Dangers of Pride
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
The Laws Relating to Converts
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
