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Beit Midrash
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- The Life of Tzaddikim
- Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
"Please," Rabbi Eliyahu said with a smile.
"So," the director began, "why does a person who asks a rabbi a halachic question have to act according to what the rabbi tells him?"
Before Rabbi Eliyahu had even gotten more than a few words out, the director interjected, "Don't rabbis make mistakes sometimes?"
"Of course," Rabbi Eliyahu answered. "Everyone can err. But it's still worthwhile to listen to a rabbi, because he often has a broader perspective and a deep base of knowledge on a topic, and he can see and know things a regular person doesn't."
The director's face clearly betrayed his dissatisfaction with that answer.
Rabbi Eliyahu continued, "Even though a person has free will, it’s a good idea to seek — and heed — the advice of a rabbi, rather than acting arbitrarily."
The director wouldn't let it rest. "But why is someone obligated? I don't understand. Let the rabbi say whatever he says and the questioner do whatever he wants."
Rabbi Eliyahu just smiled. "Wait. You'll soon understand."
The next stop on the tour was at the control tower. "This control tower is the height of a fifteen-story building," the guide informed the group. "The air-traffic controllers sit at the top, supervising all the take-offs and landings."
The group looked out the windows that surrounded the room. The runways were spread out on the ground below. "The air-traffic controllers use the height and the wide field of vision to see all the planes taking off and landing. The pilots can only see what's right in front of them, so they must follow the instructions of the air-traffic controllers, of course."
Rabbi Eliyahu turned to the airport director who had just been asking him questions. "Let's imagine a pilot sees a clear runway and requests permission to land, but the controller denies the request. Instead, he sends the pilot to a different runway. Can the pilot ignore him, do what he wants, and land on the first runway?" Rabbi Eliyahu asked.
"G-d forbid!" the director cried. "The pilot has to listen to the directions of the controllers. Their perspective is much broader. They see and know things the pilot can't possibly see from his position!"
"Listen to your own words, straight from your own mouth," Rabbi Eliyahu responded with a smile.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Why is the Rav’s Watch on his Right Hand?
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Rabbis in Midrash
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
