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Beit Midrash
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- Purim & The Month of Adar
A good laugh is the ability to see things beyond the law, beyond the visible reality. In other words: perspective and proportion. Superficial people look at the here and now; at the current law that seems suffocating and threatening. "The woman of valor", on the other hand, "laugh to the final day" – she laughs at death in its face because she knows that there is a greater eternity that will also prevail over the law of death. The first Jewish child in the world – born against all the laws of nature – was named Isaac [will laugh]; Jewish humor has maintained the Jewish people in difficult times; this is the "reversal" of Purim; this is the hope that it will be good.
It is possible to keep perspective even in the face of the current difficulty. The thought that there will be a civil war in the State of Israel is laughable. Not only from the perspective of the "unity of the soul of Israel", but also from a simple civic understanding: the Jewish society in the State of Israel is small and mixed with blood ties and neighbors that do not allow for civil war. We do not live in distant geographical autonomies like the North and South during the US Civil War, or different ethnic groups like in Syria. Those who threaten to "use weapons" or "the security forces will have a problem deciding whom to listen to" are dreaming. Do you think that a soldier in the Givati Brigade who opposes the reform will shoot at his cousin in the Kfir Brigade who supports it? (And I am not going to relate to the Golani and paratroopers...).
Even those who threaten to "take their money and leave the country" ridicule themselves, forgive my saying so. Those who invest money in the State of Israel today do not do so because of Herzl's beautiful eyes, but simply because this is a flourishing and prosperous country. Where will you go? To Russia? To a crumbling Europe? Or do you think a house is waiting for you in Beverly Hills in the USA?
No one is underestimating the difficulty that lies ahead of us. It is clear that there already are damages – and there will be – from the current tension, but put it in proportion. The State of Israel is strong and has gone through greater crises than these. In the meantime, let’s laugh a bit; Happy Purim!
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
