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Yiftach felt a strong connection to Eretz Yisrael, as we see from the speech about Israel’s right to the Land, which he sent to the king of Ammon (ibid. 12-28). In that way, he was a partner of the daughters of Tzlofchad, who had special affection for the Land (see Bamidbar 27). These important women were also descendants of Gilad (ibid. 27:1).
The ones who received, as their tribal land, the region of the Gilad, east of the Jordan, were mainly part of the Tribe of Menashe, specifically the families of Menashe’s son Machir (ibid. 32:40). However, we can prove that prominent families from Yehuda also had their estate there. In Divrei Hayamim (I, 2:21-23), the p’sukim recall that Chetzron married Machir’s daughter. Among their grandchildren was Yair, who had twenty-three cities in the Land of Gilad.
Chetzron has a prominent place in King David’s genealogy. Chetzron who was the son of Yehuda’s son Peretz (the second mentioned in Ruth, ch. 4). Chetzron and Machir had the status of princes in Bnei Yisrael’s early days in Egypt. The marriage between their children greatly strengthened the social connections between the two families/tribes. In turn, the Jewish inhabitants of the Gilad region had political connections to the Aramian tribes and kingdoms of the general region (the southern Golan Heights), as the pasuk says about Yair’s land, that it was up to the boundary of the land of Geshur and Maacha (Devarim 3:14).
This explains another wonder. David’s son Avshalom was born when David ruled over only the Tribe of Yehuda in Chevron. His mother was Maacha, daughter of the King of Geshur (Shmuel II, 3:3). How did David, as only a local leader in distant Judea, take an Aramite princess as a wife? The gemara (Sanhedrin 21a) has a difficult explanation that we may discuss at some other time, but we suggest the following.
During his seven years in Chevron, David built diplomatic connections for the long term, which were then possible only with small tribe-nations like Geshur, which was near the Kinneret. Usually a king can marry the daughter of a king only if the former is stronger than the latter (see Tzofnat Yeshayahu p. 13). Therefore, it is not surprising that when Yoav fought on behalf of David against Ammon (Shmuel II, 10:8), while the tribe/kingdom of Maacha joined up with the Aramites against David, Geshur was loyal to David. So, we posit, with the help of his Judean cousins in Gilad, the first embassy of a Jewish state was opened in the Gilad-Geshur region. The first ambassadress was David’s wife, Maacha daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur.
Upon becoming king of all of Israel, in Yerushalayim, David continued building alliances with neighboring nations, which helped strengthen his kingdom and in the building the Beit Hamikdash (see story of Chiram of Tzor, Shmuel II, 5). Alliances are a part of the necessity of every independent nation. On the other hand, from a spiritual perspective, this is very dangerous, as we learn from Avshalom himself, son of the ambassadress, who was a ben sorer u’moreh who rebelled against his father.
We pray that the love of Eretz Yisrael will find proper expression with the help of men and women who follow the lead of the daughters of Tzlofchad more than that of Yiftach Hagiladi.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
