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Recipient: R. Dr. Moshe Zeidel. He was a close disciple of Rav Kook, from their time in Boisk. Dr. Zeidel was a philologist and philosopher, who asked Rav Kook many philosophical questions.
Body: [Last time, Rav Kook started writing about the Torah’s view of slavery. He posited that slavery was a natural fact of human society, not at all created by the Torah, and that a slave protected by regulations could be better off than an exploited worker.]
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
58 - Course of Study in Contemporary Times
59 - Course of Study in Contemporary Times
60 - Follow-Up Questions
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This idea needs to be hidden until the time of light when Torah will go forth [to the whole world] from Zion. At that time, the following pasuk will be fulfilled: "Ten men from all the nations will grab the corner of a Jew’s garment, saying: ‘We will go with you, because we have heard that G-d is with you’" (Zecharia 8:23). Then, the whole world will recognize, as the hearts will be fixed and will become hearts of flesh (as opposed to hearts of stone), full of rectitude and mercy, what is actually good for them. Some of the downtrodden will want to put themselves under the auspices of fine, righteous people with wise hearts, who will look out for their welfare in the way people do for their prize possessions, which will bring them contentment and security.
The social and ethical situations are interconnected based on Hashem’s wisdom. Therefore, the ones who are fit to be slaves are those who would bring bad for themselves and the world by having greater freedom. These are people whose nature pushes them toward lowly lives, so that only external pressure straightens and elevates them. One’s family pedigree plays a role. Just as good attributes are often inherited, so too lowliness is often inherited in a way that it takes many, many generations to outgrow, as it is passed on both through people’s material and spiritual side.
Therefore, the lowliness that Ham displayed was such that his descendants were more likely to be fit to be slaves than to rule their own lives. This is what the Torah describes as Ham’s cursed status. For this reason, blessed people, who have attributes that connect them to love of Hashem and a striving for wisdom, should avoid clinging to them. In order to give credence to the level of rectitude mankind should have embraced through the Torah, there was value in the laws of slavery remaining in a regulated manner. This is the impact of a law like yom oh yomayim (forbidding excess enforcement of slaves’ obligations). The punishment for taking a life must be weighed in the perspective of making the world a better place, including in the future. That which protects society and the majority of its constituents in the future, in addition to being the right thing intrinsically, also needs to be limited in a way that it is safe externally. A situation must not exist whereby punishment of sinners stops being a tool of mercy and improving society but becomes a form of revenge.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale that Turned Out Not Happening – part III
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Igrot Hare’aya Public Letter on Observance of Shemitta – #287 – part II
Date and Place: 4 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Ties to Religiously Controversial Events/Organizations 1. #293
Date and Place: Iyar 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part II
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook, Date and Place: 11 Shevat 5670, Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Shemitta Work at Israel National Fund Land – #
Date and Place: 3 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
