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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Three Weeks
- The Ninth of Av
What loss did we experience on Tisha Ba'v? Why do we mourn?
The simple answer would be the destruction of the Temple. While that's obviously true, it isn't merely the physical structure which we mourn.
The actual structure of the Beit Hamikdash represented a complete way of life. It provided a spiritual atmosphere and environment which we lost once the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed. Chazal describe ten miracles which occurred in the Beit Hamikdash (Avot, 5, 5).
I would like to examine some of these miracles. Each miracle wasn’t merely a "coincidence" or a magical trick performed upon the uttering of "abra cadabra". Rather, each miracle teaches us something unique about the "world of the Mikdash" which we lost.
An undisturbed relationship
The fire of the Mizbeach (altar) would never burn out; Even though it was located outdoors, the rain never extinguished it. In addition, the smoke from the Mizbeach did not dissipate; It would rise up straight towards the sky, even when it was a stormy and windy day.
How can this be understood? The fire represents the relationship between Am Yisrael (the Jewish people) and Hashem, and the sacrifices are the symbol of this connection. During the time of the Temple, this love and relationship was unconditional. It did not fluctuate or die out. It was direct and consistent, just as the unextinguishable fire and the unwavering smoke going up to heaven.
Bringing spiritual meaning from a physical source
Another miracle was that the meat from the sacrifices would neither rot nor leave any stench, even when left outdoors for up to three days. Nor was a fly ever seen in the vicinity where the slaughtering of the sacrifices took place. This was not merely remarkable but rather a miracle.
What can we learn from this? What makes decaying flesh smell bad? The answer is death. A living person has a Nefesh (spirit) which is life. Once a person passes away, the body loses that life. The odor comes from the decay of the physical part of the human being. This miracle suggests that the reason the flesh from the sacrifices didn’t smell or attract flies was because of the holiness and purity attributed to the sacrifices. It wasn't just a BBQ; The physical sacrifice was imbued with a Nefesh which thereby elevated it to a sacred procedure connecting with God.
Being in Harmony with nature
According to the Mishna, snakes and scorpions didn't sting or do harm in Jerusalem. According to the Tiferet Yisrael (Avot 5, 5), they did exist, except they didn't sting or attack.
What can we learn from this miraculous defiance of nature? This may suggest that when man’s Avodat (worship of) Hashem is involved there is more harmony with nature. This alludes to the prophecies of the Geula (redemption) in which it is foreseen that (against nature) the wolf shall live side by side with the lamb, and children will play together with snakes (See Ra'avad, Melachim,12,1). The forces of evil and will to harm were deleted. The world was a better place.
To feel like you belong!
When Am Yisrael would stand in the Beit Hamikdash it was very crowded, yet when they would bow down on to the floor to pray, each person would have his own personal space of four amot (2 square meters). This miraculous occurrence teaches us that coming to the Beit Hamikdash was an extraordinary experience. It wasn’t just a collective experience. Each individual was able to experience his own personal connection to God. Everyone found his or her own spot. Everyone had a sense of belonging. Today it is harder to find that special personal connection (another loss of the world we once knew).
The bleeding curtain
The Talmud describes (Gittin, 56, b) that during the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, Titus, the head of the Roman legions came into the Kodesh Hakodashim (inner sanctum). He pierced the Parochet (ornamental curtain) and it began to bleed. In other words, once the structure was destroyed, we lost all of the Holiness and the "life" it contained.
We continued to bleed for many years.
One day, when the Beit Hamikdash is rebuilt, the holiness, and "life" will be restored. Bimheira beyameinu!
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.
