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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Peninei Halakha
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Three Weeks
- The Ninth of Av
There are three halakhic differences between Tisha Be-Av and the minor fasts: 1) Tisha Be-Av lasts an entire day, from shki’at ha-ĥama (sunset) of one day until tzeit ha-kokhavim (the emergence of three mid-sized stars) of the next day, whereas the minor fasts last only during daylight hours – from alot ha-shaĥar (dawn) until tzeit. 2) On Tisha Be-Av, there are five prohibitions: a) eating and drinking; b) washing; c) anointing oneself; d) wearing high-quality shoes; and e) engaging in sexual relations. On the minor fasts, however, only eating and drinking are prohibited. 3) Only sick people are exempt from fasting on Tisha Be-Av, whereas on the minor fast days, pregnant and nursing women are exempt as well.
In general, the fast of Tisha Be-Av is equivalent to the fast of Yom Kippur: all enactments the Sages made regarding Tisha Be-Av were modeled after the Torah’s commandments regarding Yom Kippur. This includes the five prohibitions listed above. Nonetheless, since the fast of Tisha Be-Av is a rabbinic enactment, its laws are more lenient in two significant ways: 1) The Sages did not require sick people to fast on Tisha Be-Av. In contrast, sick people must fast on Yom Kippur, unless doing so would put his life in danger. 2) In situations of uncertainty, one should be stringent on Yom Kippur, but on Tisha Be-Av one may be lenient. This follows the rule that we are stringent in cases of uncertainty about Torah law, but lenient in cases of uncertainty about rabbinic law.
However, Tisha Be-Av is more stringent than Yom Kippur in a certain way. On Tisha Be-Av, we are obligated to mourn. Therefore, we sit on the floor, refrain from greeting one another, darken the room at night, and are forbidden to enjoy Torah study. On Yom Kippur, however, we are obligated only to deprive ourselves, but besides the five afflictions, the day is considered a holiday: We wear nice clothing, sit on regular seats, sing songs, exchange greetings with one another, and of course, engage in Torah study without limits. (Regardless of the afflictions, melakha is forbidden on Yom Kippur just as it is forbidden on Shabbat.)
Rabbis in Midrash
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.
