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Beit Midrash
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- Noach
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
Some view tzaddik and tamim as separate adjectives. Ibn Ezra, for one, says that he was righteous in his actions and complete in his intentions. Similarly, the Seforno explains that he was righteous in actions and complete theologically. Avot D’Rabbi Natan explains that he was complete in that he was born circumcised. In contrast, the Ramban understands tamim as an adverb that modifies tzaddik. Specifically, he was completely righteous and thus deserved being spared from the flood.
If Noach was so great, why did he not succeed and apparently not even seriously try to save his generation? According to the opinion that he was great "in his generation," but he would have not been considered great in a different one, the matter is not difficult. However, according to the opinion that he was great despite the difficulties raised by his contemporaries, the question remains why he did not impact on his surroundings.
The Sefat Emet (5652) deals with the gemara’s (Ta’anit 15a) exegesis of the pasuk in Tehillim 97, "Light is planted for the righteous and, for the straight of heart, joy," explaining why light and joy are associated with the righteous and straight, respectively. The level of tzaddik applies after Adam’s sin, when people were either in the category of good or bad. The patriarchs were straight, because they returned to the level of man before the sin. Regarding that time, we say at sheva berachot that Hashem created joy. Joy is thus higher than light. Similarly, he explains, Yom Kippur brings out the tzaddik in a person as he strives to be like angels, whereas on Sukkot one can reach the level of joy by elevating the material world of the harvest season to that of articles of mitzva.
The Lev Simcha explains, based on the Zohar, that Noach feared his generation’s influence on him. That made him a tzaddik, but, as the Sefat Emet says, Avraham was a (classical) chasid, one who is "compassionate with Hashem" and exceeds the minimum requirements, thereby lighting up the path before Hashem (see Bereishit Rabba 30:10). Avraham’s behavior was epitomized by bringing along those who otherwise would not have joined service of Hashem.
Let us return to Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Before Yom Kippur, we grant permission to pray with the sinners so that we can go from the level of "ohr zaruah la’tzaddik" to "l’yishrei lev simcha. On Sukkot, we walk around with the arava, which represents the people who lack good deeds. As Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook stressed to his students: "There is no mitzva that you can perform with an etrog (representing complete people); you can follow the mitzva of the prophets by holding just aravot."
We need to remind ourselves of this message, now more than ever.
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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.