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Beit Midrash
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The liturgy for Yamim Noraim contains a lot about how lowly man is, which seems at odds with the potential for greatness, which we celebrate at this time. We say that Rosh Hashana is the time when Hashem is our light, and Yom Kippur is the time when He is our salvation (Vayikra Rabba 21:4, based on Tehillim 27:1). The former relates to the creation of the world and the latter to Hashem’s forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf, represented by the giving of the second Tablets.
When Adam sinned, the light of Hashem disappeared, being replaced by "knowledge of good and bad." The sin included not just a momentary loss to the evil inclination but the creation of a philosophy that his sin was justified. This is what the gemara (Sanhedrin 38b) describes as Adam being one who denied basic religious beliefs and one who pulled on his foreskin to hide the fact that he was circumcised (including, spiritually circumcised). Adam explained the interest in fulfilling desires as a fact to accept and not a lack of perfection that one needs to try to overcome in reaching shleimut (spiritual completeness).
Judaism looks at matters very differently. Mila represents for us that we need to try to rein in the impurity with which we were born. Tehillim 92 says that evil will grow like grass, in order for it to be destroyed (ibid. 8).
Sin brought a positive result. Kayin’s sin (fratricide) was so severe that he could not justify it. Kayin recognized his sin and repented, which revealed two things about the world: sin is not natural; sin can awaken one, which Kayin had not previously realized. It was his task to improve himself. When he taught this to Adam, Adam called out "Mizmor shir l’yom HaShabbat," which declares the shleimut of the world after our efforts are successful.
Kayin was only able to "compromise" with Hashem and not totally erase the sin. The idea is that as long as man can justify his sin, he will not repent. The motivation to repent comes from seeing the light of Hashem represented by Rosh Hashana, as explained in Tehillim 92, the song of Shabbat, the song of shleimut in the created world.
In the sin of the Golden Calf, the people felt the need to explain why they could prefer the image of a calf to Moshe. Moshe had to show them that their attitude could not continue, and he therefore broke the tablets. When the nation fully repented, they were ready for a new set of tablets, which they received on Yom Kippur. That is the salvation of Yom Kippur. When during these days it is necessary to speak about man’s lacking, it is not in order to cause us resignation, but to make us realize we have a job – to not accept our weaknesses but strive towards shleimut, as Adam learned from Kayin.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael – part II
#229 Date and Place: 13 Tishrei 5670 (1909), Yafo
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
P'ninat Mishpat A Commercial Rental for a Closed Business – part II
based on ruling 80047 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.