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Rashi answered that the first mention of setting the times of the year refers to the setting of the beginning of the new month (kiddush hachodesh), whereas the second one refers to the setting of the leap month on certain years (ibbur hashana). We need to make leap years to adjust our lunar calendar for two purposes. One is so that Pesach will always fall in the spring, as the Torah requires. The other is so that when Bnei Yisrael make the sojourn to Yerushalayim for the three major "pilgrimage holidays," this will be not during the rainy season. The former need we can categorize as one to honor Hashem, and the second one is out of concern for national needs. In other words, one is for the Father and one is for His nation.
In order to have a proper mo’ed, both the date of the month and the decision of when to add a month are critical. But there is a halachic difference between the two. In the process of kiddush hachodesh, those who are involved may violate Shabbat if necessary, for example by traveling on Shabbat upon seeing the new moon. Ibbur hashana does not allow the violation of Shabbat. According to Rashi’s reading of the pasuk, we understand the layout of the p’sukim. The mitzva of setting the month is written before Shabbat, because the former takes precedence over the latter. The mention of the leap year comes after mention of Shabbat because Shabbat takes precedence over it.
We learn from the precedence of kiddush hachodesh to Shabbat that the basic needs of the nation as a nation-state are supreme. There are far reaching rules, to which we cannot do justice in this forum. We will mention, though, that our teacher and mentor, Rav Shaul Yisraeli zt"l taught us an important lesson in his sefer Amud Hayemini (siman 17). When an individual has a critical need for something to be done on Shabbat, we have for centuries looked for a "Shabbos goy" to do certain things. However, when it comes to operating a police force or army on Shabbat, it is implausible that we should give over our security to someone else. Rav Yisraeli was in the forefront of setting the halachic rules whereby Shabbat-observant Jews would be able to serve as policemen on Shabbat in the halachically mandated manner. In such a setting, there are times when even in order to keep the peace in regard to personal property and not only direct danger to life, a policeman can at times do what would otherwise be a violation of Shabbat.
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
