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Beit Midrash
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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.
Body : About the yeiush (despair; apparently, Alexandrov complained that the Jewish people’s outlook was overly gloomy), you have exaggerated the matter. It is true that our stature is diminished by a large measure, whether it be regarding the masses or the elite in the nation. However, when we look well at the matter, we will see that the solution to the diminishment is in the renewal of the loftiest life that our nation can look forward to.
The state of sleep in a living organism, especially in humans, causes the powers of the body to focus on the inside. In that state, logic and the senses do not work. What does work, and in a diligent manner, is the lower physical functions, and imagination works unimpeded. Wise and righteous people are exposed to spiritually elevated dreams, with visions of great importance, which excite the heart. This is on a level that is beyond what a person can sense awake. When a person starts to awaken, the imagination diminishes as does the more spiritual attainments, and powers of lower physicality weaken before the abilities of logic and full control of his senses and body return to function. At this time a person is groggy and is full of emotions that are similar to being burdened and in despair. One who is diligent will awaken like a lion when it is still very early, but even a brave man will not be able to escape from moments of weakness.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
119 - Is Israel So Different from the Nations?
120 - Our National Sleep
121 - Why Moshavot Do Not Appoint Rabbis
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Among the masses, the imagination played tricks, providing both pleasant and bitter dreams. Uniquely wonderful people saw lofty visions, based on eternal truths that lead in all matters. This is the way hundreds of years of slumber have transpired, and now the approaching of the end of days has but begun the process of reawakening. The eyes have opened, and we have begun to see clearly the world that surrounds us. The power of the "lower life," which is represented by sleep, has for the most part stopped. The period of widespread imagination has passed, as have the lofty, holy people. At this moment in history, we are in a state of weakness.
However, everyone should be able to see that this situation will not last for too long, but rather there will be a process of increasing light. Other nations did not require a period of sleep because they did not have such a long national life, which would weigh them down to that extent. Rather, when they became tired, they slept forever.
In contrast, about us it says: "I have lied down and slept; I have woken up because Hashem has supported me" (Tehillim 3:6). After a lot of toil, in the war of a life of materialism and spirituality, we slept, and it was an unpleasant sleep. However, on the inside, the storehouse of great life, which is the source of our national life, unique and of importance, remains.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Who Breached the Contract? – part IV
Based on ruling 81087 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Profits from Formerly Joint Swimming Pool – part
(based on ruling 81110 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part II
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Alternatives to Gymnasium and Grafted Etrogim – #286
Date and Place: 18 Adar II, 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part IV
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook; Date and Place: 11 Shevat 5670, Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Possibilities of Creating Religious Moshavot – #284 – part II
Date and Place: 1 Adar II, 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Language of Instruction for Rav Kook’s Yeshiva – #325
Date and Place: 4 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
