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Beit Midrash
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- Parashat Hashavua
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Our parasha tells of a place that Hashem chose at which Bnei Yisrael shall serve Him. After that place was identified, it disqualified other places from sacrificial activities (Devarim 12:5). The place was located at the time of King David, who dedicated his life to it, despite the difficulties. David described his focus on the project of preparing the location for the Beit Hamikdash in Tehillim 132:1-5.
Let us return to see how much to rely on prayers, with the help of the painful story of David and his rebellious son, Avshalom. As David was leaving Yerushalayim to avoid being caught by his son, he met two kohanim gedolim, Tzadok and Evyatar, who wanted to bring to the fleeing camp the greatest "war hero," the aron hakodesh (Shmuel II, 15:24). In refusing to have the aron come with him into exile, David left us with one of the greatest statements of belief in Hashem that our nation has known: "Return the ark of Hashem to the city. If I will find favor in the eyes of Hashem, He shall return me and show me it and His place. And if Hashem will say ‘I do not want you,’ here I am; He shall do to me that which is good in His eyes" (ibid. 25-26). David was so dedicated to the national centrality of Yerushalayim, that he demanded that the city remain intact, with the aron in its midst even in the time of his flight. David accepted upon himself that if he turned out to be wrong in his lifework, then he accepted Hashem’s judgment.
Shortly thereafter, David had to stand up to another test of belief. David was told that his top advisor, Achitofel, about whom it was said that asking him was like asking Hashem, had joined Avshalom’s forces (ibid. 31). David responded with a short prayer, reminiscent of Moshe’s short prayer for Miriam. David said: "Bring failure to the counsel of Achitofel, Hashem" (ibid.). So David had moved from the stage of belief to the stage of short prayer, and this was very effective. Immediately, Chushai Ha’arki approached him, and it was he who undid Achitofel’s plan with a huge measure of Divine Assistance. This enabled David to emerge victorious and return to Yerushalayim to continue his work of preparing the city for the Temple that his son would build.
After David’s prayer, he proceeded to take practical steps to remedy the problem and left agents in Yerushalayim, who informed him of the steps Avshalom was taking. It is noteworthy that at the end, it turned out that this step did not prove necessary. We learn from this episode in David’s life, the approach to dealing with troubles: belief, then prayer (including short prayer), then practical action. One who has earned special levels of Divine Assistance needs much less practical action. This is in accordance with Chazal’s words: "One who accepts the yoke of Torah will have the yoke of normal actions removed from him" (Bamidbar Rabba, Chukat 19:26).
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.