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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
Yet the reaction to these two incidents is radically different. After the Egel HaZahav, there was a strong reproach from Hashem & some bloodletting, but then we moved on. Yet in the wake of the Meraglim, an entire generation of 600,000 souls would die out & our entrance into Israel would be delayed by 40 years of wandering!
Why the huge discrepancy between the two incidents?
One suggestion is that the sin of the Calf was an error in faith - we thought we needed a go-between in order to reach Hashem - while the Spies episode was essentially a failure of morals & Midot, primarily our lack of self-confidence. And while you can teach people the basics of faith & religion in relatively short order (just witness the rapid metamorphosis of ba’alei teshuva!), changing the personality traits of a nation was a monumental task & would take much, much longer.
But there is another fundamental difference between the Egel & the Meraglim. In the case of the Egel HaZahav, who were the primary perpetrators? The general public, the rank-and-file, the "man in the street" (note that the women heroically did not take part!) They were the ones that agitated for & built the Calf; Moshe was busy up on the Mount & Ahron couldn't stop them.
Yet who perpetrated the sin of the Spies? The Princes, the leaders, the creme-de-la-creme of each & every Shevet! These were men chosen to be our heroes & role models, yet they turned into spineless wimps with neither the spirit nor the strength to do the job. Somewhere down the line, they lost their nerve, their faith, their sense of historical purpose. And they failed us.
While G-d can forgive the average person for sometimes failing to live up to all of his or her potential, leaders are special & they are judged by infinitely higher standards. The nation depends upon them, & they dare not lose their will. For if they fall, then many will fall with them, & so the penalty for their failure will be very severe.
If you lack that inner courage, if you can't take the heat, better not to become a leader - & certainly not to stay in that position when you do waver.
Good advice - then and now.
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.
