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Another dispute: What did the Maccabim do when they found that 1 jar of unblemished oil? Did they put all the oil in the Menora at one time, so at least 1 day would be a "pure" & complete Mitzva? Or did they divide up the jar & place 1/8 of the oil in the Menora each night, so as to at least do some of the Mitzva?
The underlying philosophy behind both of these issues is the same: Should we try to go right to the top, shoot for immediate stardom, go for broke? Or, should we rather start small & work our way up, step by step, higher & higher, until we reach the summit?
In a world of perfection, of absolutes – like Olam Haba, which is populated by Angels & holy souls – the Halacha is indeed like Bet Shamai. But here on Earth, we mortals follow Bet Hillel’s approach, increasing light gradually, little by little, light by light.
Life is all about growth, about slow but steady progress towards a higher goal. Note how Yosef, our Sedra’s protagonist, grows significantly through the years: At first, he is an arrogant, somewhat conceited & immature lad. "V’hu na’ar," says the pasuk, he was but a "na’ar," a kid, a "work in progress." But later, after much trial & trauma, Yosef becomes a leader of men; he fulfills his destiny as the provider for his family & is a study in self-control. He has climbed the mountain from "na’ar" to "Tzadik."
Chazal tell us that the primary Mitzva which the Syrian-Greeks tried to deny to Am Yisrael was circumcision, brit mila. The Greeks worshipped beauty & the body. In their culture, a deformed child was left on a mountain-top to die, while those with fine physiques were exalted. (Thus, Helena, the goddess of beauty, was their primary deity, and their Olympics were conducted in the nude).
But we Jews believe that we are not born perfect; rather, we have the potential to reach perfection. This is signified by our very body, created "imperfectly" - until we perform the brit. By the same token, our souls – like our bodies - need a lot of work in order to reach their potential, & so we go about refining our neshamot through a daily regimen of Torah, Tefila & Tzedaka.
Life, & Chanuka, are like a sufganiya: Don’t try to swallow it all in one bite!
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.
