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Beit Midrash
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Revital Bat Lea
The Ramban and Seforno explain that the mitzvah is repentance. Most of the commentators take Chazal’s approach that it is referring to Torah and mitzvot in general. The midrash (Midrash Tehillim 119) picks up on the nuance of the words "lo nifleit hee mimcha" (literally, it is not out of grasp of you) and says that Moshe was saying that it is not objectively out of grasp and if it seems so, it is from you, meaning you did not toil over it. This midrash implies that when a person looks at the Torah as an external burden, it will appear distant. When one is willing to work on and connect to it, he will find that it is close, indeed within him.
The gemara has an interesting approach to the terms "in the heaven" and "across the sea." Rav says that Torah is not found in one who views himself above others or whose desires are spread out like the sea (Eruvin 55a). Good personal attributes such as humility and simplicity are conditions for accepting the Torah in such a way that it becomes part of a person’s lifestyle.
We will conclude with a difficult midrash on the words "lo nifleit he mimcha." It says that even if you need to have flesh cut off to allow you to learn Torah, you should have them take from you. The midrash says we do not actually do so, but how can it entertain such a possibility? The Radvaz (1052) rules that if a king says he will cut off one’s limb or kill someone else, he need not sacrifice his limb. His source is that the "ways of the Torah are the ways of pleasantness" (Proverbs 3:17), and it does not make sense that the Torah would require one to go blind or have a hand or leg cut off to save someone else.
This seems like a far-fetched occurrence nowadays, but the concept does arise frequently, for example, regarding donating a kidney, where there is little danger to the donor’s life, to save someone else. The Radvaz’s feeling, that his human moral intuition is an indication of what the Torah expects, provides another meaning for "it is not in the heaven." The Torah was given to people with their feet on the ground even as their heads strive for the sky. They are to apply the Torah in a manner that keeps it rational and "on the ground" even as it is lofty.
Let us pray that by keeping to this principle, we will merit to "find grace and good wisdom in the eyes of Hashem and man" (Proverbs 3:4), in the heaven and on the ground.
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.