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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The High Holidays
- The Fast of Gedaliah
The murder of Gedaliah ben Achikam finalized the destruction of the First Temple. After the burning of the Temple, a depleted remnant of the Jewish population remained in the Land of Israel; the punishment that followed the murder uprooted the last Jews from the Land of Israel and made the exile final. A closer look reveals that it was precisely this tragic event that caused growth. Until then, the Jews toyed with the fact that the destruction was not final and, in any case, did not gather the strength for a renewed return. It was precisely the recognition that the First Temple era was over that enabled Zerubabel and his people several generations later to immigrate to the Land of Israel and start to establish the Second Temple era.
The recognition that must be internalized after Rosh Hashanah 5784 is that the era of 5783 (2022-2023) is over. That is sad because there were good things in our lives in the previous year, and therefore we fast; and it is precisely from this that we grow. We are facing the year 5784. The year 5783 will not return and it is a good thing that we will fast during the Fast of Gedaliah ben Achikam, and we will know that "Gedal-Ya" – God is raising us and "Achi-Kam" – He gives our brothers and us the strength to rise for the year 5784.
Have a good week!
Have an effective fast and Shana Tova!
Rabbi Haggai Lundin
Family and Society There Will Not Be A Civil War!
(Told to the students of the Hesder Yeshiva in Holon)
Peninei Halakha 5. Tzom Gedalia
Chapter 6: The Four Fasts Commemorating the Destruction of the Temple
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
