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If, however, a person is too far away from Jerusalem and cannot bring his produce to the Bet HaMikdash, he may exchange the produce for cash and then purchase food with that money in Jerusalem. As the Torah states: "And if the way is too long for you ... because the place (hamakom) is too far away from you..." (Devarim 14:24)
Rabbi Yaakov Kranz, otherwise known as the Dubner Maggid, notes that the Torah seems to be repeating itself: "the way is too long... because the place (hamakom) is too far." Aren’t these the same thing? He explains that hamakom refers not to the physical place, but to God. (For example, God is referred to as HaMakom, "the place," in the wish given a mourner, "HaMakom yenachem otkha betoch she'ar avalei Tzion viYerushalayim.") Why is the way too long? Because we are too far away from HaMakom, from God. When we are far from Him, even a small effort is too difficult for us. The Halakhah allows a person to redeem the produce for cash even in close proximity as long as he hasn't yet entered the gates of Jerusalem. A person can live next door to the Beit HaMikdash and yet be far away while another can live even far away and yet be close to HaMakom - close to God.
We must strive to be both close and "near" to the Makom.
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Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
