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- Articles about Shavuot
Matan Torah is a Wedding
The counting of the Sfirat Haomer is similar to the counting of the days that a wife undergoes in purifying herself for her spouse. Only for the Omer, it is for seven full weeks of seven days per week. This conceptualizes the thought that Matan Torah is a great wedding, where Am Yisrael, the bride, connects with God. This aspect mentioned in the Magen Avraham (according to the Zohar), basically describes an amazing relationship of love we experience on Shavuot with Hashem.
The Torah Elevates People
The angels that came to eat at Abraham's tent did not separate meat and dairy. One of the customs mentioned (see the Be'er Hetev) is to first eat dairy and after that meat to show the difference between us and those angels who ate with Abraham. Angels don't really eat, neither do they have a 'yetzer hora', an evil inclination. Before God gave the Torah to Moses, the angels tried to convince Him to leave the Torah in heaven with them. Moses convinced Hashem to allow the Torah to enter the 'lower world' by showing how the laws are relevant precisely to human beings- using natural ways (bavli Shabat 88). The angels, of course, have no need for the Torah. The purpose of the Torah is to upgrade and elevate people who exist in THIS world.
The Torah Has Demands
When Am Yisrael received the Torah there were suddenly many new laws that they were commanded to follow. The preparation required for eating meat is more involved as compared what it takes for dairy products. The slaughtering, salting etc., required, forced them to eat dairy on Shavuot (Mishna Brura). The Torah has many demands and we are required to have Yirat Shamayim, together with great love that we have for our mitzvot. The laws are very detailed and effect every aspect of our lives, including our kitchens. We are ready and capable for this.
The Torah is Sweet
One of the customs is to eat milk with honey. Here we want to express the fact that the Torah is sweet to us. The Torah is compared to honey and milk (Mishna Brurah). We also express that our life depends on the Torah and we nurse from it in the same way that a newborn nurses (Resisei Liala 56).
I believe that all the explanations above are true and together introduce a deep insight into the essence of the holiday of Shavuot. The simple act of following a popular custom can reach out and touch the deepest meaning of the holiday in such an accurate way.
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.
