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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Date and Place : 27 Iyar 5668 (1908), Yafo
Recipient : Rabbi Shmuel Alexandrov. Alexandrov was a yeshiva-trained scholar, who was an autodidact in languages, philosophy, and science. He was a very independent thinker who at times angered the Maskilim and at times angered traditional rabbis. He was a member of the Mizrachi movement and tried, over the years, to recruit Rav Kook to take a leadership role within that movement. This is one of many correspondences between the two on matters of Jewish philosophy.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
113 - When Should Mitzvot Cease to Apply?
114 - When Should Mitzvot Cease to Apply?
115 - The Torah as a Source of Political Theories
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Body : [Last time we saw that Rav Kook posited that all should agree that there are stages of the World to Come when mitzvot will apply and others when they will not, but that it is nonsensical to assume that in their time, they had reached anywhere near such a stage.]
This mistake, to think that the world is perfected, at a time that it is still full of impurities that need refinement and further refinement, [is the type that] costs a "high price of tuition." In a few periods, this phenomenon already occurred. Special individuals, who indeed were great men of morality, extrapolated from themselves onto the rest of the world or based themselves on a certain element of light, at a certain uplifting time in the nation, and assumed that it was a constant thing. Based on these things, they tried to hasten the End of Days and tried to abrogate set obligations that apply to actions according to values set for certain stages in the world.
These people’s mistakes were always revealed by means of many painful events. Then, the world returned to "spin on its axis," and the practical flow of history and spirituality returned to normal, advancing slowly in spirituality by following the practices of the Torah. One is elevated specifically by a slow movement to a high point of development.
A solid thought process would teach differently than [the spiritual but misguided people we have mentioned]. First, the unusually spiritual, who might have been elevated by the set obligations [of the Torah] or who might have been impacted by special times, should not judge the rest of the world as if they are also on the same spiritual level. To the contrary, the spiritual elite should connect themselves in a thousand ways to the masses, as the spiritual maladies that generally afflict the masses may afflict the elite to some degree or at some inopportune time, even when one is strong, based on the flow of life. Therefore, even the most special people or people at the most special times, should not jump in and destroy or weaken the set obligations. Rather they should bear their burden with love and draw out from them the dew of life for the sake of the good days that will come, when they are to come. This will be when the light will be so full and shining that there is no doubt that the time has arrived, as will be testified about by the form of life, internal and external, when the world will be full of truth and song.
However, as long as evil is greater than good and darkness is greater than light, every leader has the obligation to warn the nation about the path of light and intellect. That is to love set mitzvot and the obligations that apply to all, such as morality as it applies to the masses and indeed all of humanity, and the specific obligations of our nation, from minor to major. This will create a complete national unity, which will be best able to light the internal light of free and supreme morality, which we desire.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Semi-solicited Advice to Calm Down Petach Tikva
#227 Date and Place: 8 Tishrei 5669, Yafo
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part I
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Connecting Disciplines in Torah Study
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook #103 – part II
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Multiple Agreements and Parties – part IV
based on final ruling of 80082 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Public Response to Zealous Defense of Rav Kook – #308
Date and Place: 15 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Alternatives to Gymnasium and Grafted Etrogim – #286
Date and Place: 18 Adar II, 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
Date and Place: 5 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot (probably)
Igrot Hare’aya Worse on the Outside, Better on the Inside – #332
Date and Place: 26 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
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.
