YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Vayakhel
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
In the past we explained that Shlomo wanted everyone who would visit the Beit Hamikdash to know that the Divine Presence dwelled there, having gone down from the Heavens to the chosen place on Earth. When the special copper shined in the sun, it looked like chariots of fire had landed in the Beit Hamikdash’s courtyard, where they remained permanently, along with the Divine Presence.
We will now suggest another explanation. Shlomo wanted the visitors to the Beit Hamikdash to return to the status of Adam before his sin or Bnei Yisrael before their sin of the Golden Calf (see Nefesh Hachayim 1:6). As such, each one could be blessed with a revelation of the Divine Presence, making each one a prophet of sorts. At the revelation at Sinai, indeed everyone had reached such a state, as they heard at least the first two commandments directly from Hashem, giving them their own "sighting of the ma’aseh merkava (Divine Chariot)."
Let us put things in perspective. Ma’aseh merkava is a nickname for the few places in Tanach in which there is a description of a direct, to the extent possible, meeting with the Divine Presence. One can see the Chariot, not its Rider. The first such description was at Sinai (see Shemot 24:10-11). We next find it at the prophecy of Michayhu ben Yimla, a contemporary of Eliyahu, who said: "I saw Hashem sitting on His throne, and all of the beings of the Heaven were standing to His right and to His left" (Melachim I, 22:19). More than a hundred years later, Yeshayahu pronounced that he saw "Hashem sitting on a lofty throne and His bottom part filled the Temple" (Yeshayahu 6:1). More than a hundred years after that, Yechezkel told, "The Heaven was opened, and I saw divine sights" (Yechezkel 1:1; see also 10:1; 43:2-3, for more detailed descriptions).
Comparing the merkava with the mechonot, we conclude that Shlomo aimed to give every person who visited the Beit Hamikdash the feeling of "gazing at the pleasantness of Hashem and visiting His Temple" (Tehillim 27:4). This was facilitated by the special shining of the mechonot’s copper. On a deeper level, Shlomo went a step further than David, in Tehillim, and tried to give simpler people than the great prophets an experience that seemed somewhat parallel. On the one hand, this can elevate them spiritually. On the other hand, those who reach levels that are arguably too high for them, could be spiritually damaged (see Chagiga 14b). May we all merit being on the level that David Hamelech strove for.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
