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At his last meeting with Lavan, after he embarked upon his return to Cana’an, Yaakov again took a rock and turned it into a monument, related to the non-belligerence treaty he made with Lavan (ibid. 31:45-53). Upon his return to the Land, Yaakov kept his promise and placed a monument at the place of his dream and called it Beit El (ibid. 35:14-15). Unfortunately, not much later, he had to erect another matzeva, at the burial plot of Rachel (ibid. 19-20).
Opposite the matzeva that Yaakov erected, made so Yaakov could pour libations to Hashem, Lavan’s relatives put together a pile of stones, which could serve for idol worship (see ibid. 31:46, which we understand as Yaakov telling not his "brothers" but Lavan’s, as we find the syntax regarding Paroh and Yosef’s brothers – ibid. 47:3).
Rabbeinu Bachyei connects between the story of Rachel’s stealing of her father’s terafim, to rid him of his idol worship, and the pile of stones that also symbolized idol worship. The agreement between Yaakov and Lavan therefore ended with Lavan swearing in the name of Nachor’s god and Yaakov swearing in the name of the G-d of Yitzchak, who had been bound to the altar as part of his dedication to belief in the one G-d (see also Abarbanel ad loc.). Upon this backdrop, we can suggest the following explanation.
Yaakov understood the deep significance of his flight to his uncle, Lavan’s, home, considering that the latter was a known idol worshipper. This was a very spiritually dangerous step. When he erected the matzeva in Beit El and made the promise about his return, he was proclaiming that even in Charan he would serve only the G-d of his father and his grandfather, who fought against all forms of idol worship. Yaakov’s placing of the rival monuments was also a declaration that there was a gulf between his approach and that of Lavan. Along those lines, he renewed his dedication to Hashem upon returning to Beit El. It is possible that Yaakov did not find out about Rachel’s stealing of her father’s terafim, and his curse of the thief was involved in her premature death. Even so, when Yaakov put a matzeva by her grave, this too was part of his creating a spiritual center, which stood as a lesson to the surrounding population of the approach of Avraham and Yitzchak, as the service of Hashem on a single rock was unique to them at that time.
It is true that after the giving of the Torah, a matzeva became forbidden, and an altar had to be built out of stones, which represented the idea of the members of the nation from their multiple tribes, joining together for service of Hashem through justice and charity (see Bereishit 18:19). May we succeed in building our state and society based on these ideals.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
