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Body : Last time, we saw Rav Kook’s remarks about the reawakening of the Jewish spirit in Eretz Yisrael. He started to compare the people to a sick young girl whose emergence from deep illness began with asking for a doll.
Beloved Yerushalayim, the shoshana (rose) of the lowlands (see Shir Hashirim 2;1), the dear daughter of Zion, this is the dear daughter, who has been sick with the disease of the bitter exile, which has been both long and degrading. Her sons forgot her, and many gave up on hoping and living for her due to a weakened heart. Now, a flow of life has made their tormented and sick bones tremble in a pleasant way. She demands beauty, art, and craftsmanship (parallel to the doll).
Those who calculate may say that the timing is inappropriate, as there are more pressing needs to attend to first. This may be, but the demand comes from the heart of Yerushalayim’s sons, from her spirit which she poured onto them. These demands are themselves a sign of life, hope, salvation, and consolation.
It is important to know that this sign of life is not devoid of actual content; it also has a productive benefit. The important field of the art of beauty can bring blessing and open the gates of a healthy livelihood for many families among our brothers who live on the holy soil. Thereby, "its fruit shall be for eating, and its leaves for medicine" (see Yechezkel 47:12).
It will also open the feeling for beauty and purity, in which the dear Sons of Zion are very talented. Art will uplift afflicted souls and provide them with a clearer outlook that is more full of light about the grandeur of life, nature, craftsmanship, and the honor of work and diligence. These are lofty principles that fill every Jew’s spirit with feelings of joy and grandeur.
These positive hopes, which we focus on due to your new, honorable movement, give me enough bravery to speak in your ears, respected sirs and beloved brothers. I refer to a different matter and realm, ostensibly very far from the field of beauty and art – rabbinics. However, I hope that what I will say will be beneficial. Simple information can remove a multitude of terrible stumbling blocks from our path. Then we can turn to the path of benefit and embellishing our spirit’s desires, for the glow of splendor and beauty, to overcome and appear on our nation in our Land and our holy city.
Regarding the general love of artistic beauty, which finds expression in actual human-made works, our nation always relates positively, but with limitations. We carefully avoid intoxication and exaggeration, even in the loftiest matters. Justice guides our path. Our holy sources say, "Do not be overly pious" (Kohelet 7:16). Wisdom is the light of our lives, and yet we say, "Do not be overly smart" (ibid.). "Eating an abundance of honey is not good" (Mishlei 25:27). This is the rule that encompasses all elements of our nation’s life. We will never be addicted to a specific idea to an extent that we will drown in its depths to the degree that we will be unable to give a boundary; we do not allow its hold to broaden endlessly.
When the limitations come to rein in good, innately lofty things, the limitations are gentle and soft, like a fence of roses (see Shir Hashirim 7:3), which suffices to prevent breaches (Sanhedrin 37a). Drawing a significant line is enough for Am Yisrael. This line holds the insignia of barriers for the honorable idea, considering that which is above it. It is sometimes enough that it reaches its desired spirit with one clear point without blemishing the special storehouse of the human spirit by applying metal chains.
We continue next time with details on the limitations.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael
#222 Date and Place: 2 Elul 5669 (1909), Rechovot
P'ninat Mishpat A Commercial Rental for a Closed Business – part II
based on ruling 80047 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Departure of an Uncle to Eretz Yisrael
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Vol. I, #1 , p. 1-2 – part II
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.
