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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Seder Night
- The Four Cups
This powerful passage from the Hagada is recited as we open the door on Seder night for Eliyahu haNavi, who, by tradition, will announce the coming of Moshiach. It comes just after we have poured the 4th cup of the Arba Kosot.
Among the commentaries as to why we have 4 cups at the Seder is that each cup represents a different world power that oppressed us. The 1st cup represents Babylonia; the 2nd Persia; the 3rd is Greece & the 4th is Rome. While the first three empires have long since ceased to exist, "Rome" & its successors are still considered to be prevalent in various forms, & we continue to suffer from the hatred & anti-Semitism they exhibit. That is why this 4th cup is the one that immediately precedes the call for G-d to avenge the Jewish blood that has been spilled (& this is one more reason why davka red wine, resembling blood, is considered optimum for the Seder’s 4 cups).
As a nation, we have always maintained the highest moral code. Even under the greatest duress, when we have been discriminated against & treated cruelly, we did not respond in kind. Our enemies accuse us of precisely what they themselves are guilty of, & then the U.N.A.I. (United Nations Against Israel) comes & rubber-stamps it.
So although G-d could have brought Egypt to its knees with 1 massive Plague, the Makot come in much smaller increments, allowing Paro at any point to relent, repent & save his nation. And even when the final plague hits, the Killing of the 1st-born, we are told not to emerge from our homes to gloat over their misfortune or take revenge. We are to restrain ourselves and never compromise our holiness and G-dliness.
We endure terrible trials, but justice must be done at some point, because Hashem is the Eternal Balancer of the Books. The G-d of Justice will call all the nations to account for their evil actions, as well as their evil plans that never came to fruition (thanks in great part to Hashem’s holy messengers, the IDF).
The story is told of the rabbi who was once invited to an ecumenical conference & asked to give a prayer. He agrees, but on the condition that the other clergy keep it non-denominational & do not mention their specific religion. But the priest ends his prayer in the name of JC, & the imam gives his in the name of Allah. The rabbi, clearly incensed at their arrogance and abrogation of their agreement, gets up to the podium, shakes his fist at his colleagues & yells out: "Sh’foch chamatcha al ha-goyim!" He then looks out at the audience, smiles & says, "How good it is when brothers dwell together."
Patience & punishment, revenge & reconciliation, it’s all in the mix, & all in good time. Chag Kasher V’Sameach.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
