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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Recipient: Rav Shlomo Elyashov (Rav Kook used his name’s Yiddish spelling; it is also pronounced Elyashiv). He was from and in Lithuania. Rav Elyashov, one of the greatest kabbalists of his era, wrote several sefarim, including Leshem Shvo V’achlama (he was often called "The Leshem"). Rav Kook and the Leshem enjoyed a long relationship. When Rav Kook was the rabbi in Biosk, Rav Elyashov taught him Kabbala. As we see here, the two continued a relationship at a distance. In 1922, Rav Elyashov moved to Eretz Yisrael with Rav Kook’s help. Through his daughter, the Leshem was the grandfather of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, the great Talmudist and leader, who, along with his parents, moved to Eretz Yisrael with the Leshem and adopted his last name.
Body: [The basic content of this letter is simple (thanks for receiving the author’s sefer) and the flowery language (which I lowered and sometimes turned from third person to second person, for reading ease) and double meanings of some phrases makes this difficult to translate. The opportunity to focus on the interaction of the two great Kabbalists and friends is worth the effort.]
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
147 - Responding to Inquiries About Organizational Affairs
148 - Excitement about Receiving a Sefer of Kabbala
149 - Call to Plant More Etrog Trees
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At this time, as your holy book is still in my hand, I devoured several pages, even before the pages were bound, out of my great love of its sanctity. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, may it and its taste be blessed. So too, may Hashem, Who adds on from the source of life to give people long life and years of goodness, good health, and wonderful light, add on these blessings to my dear and honored master, a good and long life. May you bring to fruition all that the spirit of Hashem that is within you shall strive for, and let these matters be elevated one rung after another, as they enter Hashem’s sanctum and His portion, as the Chatam Sofer writes in his responsum (Yoreh Deah 233). If this is so for the straightforward ideas of the Torah, all the more so that this is true of holy Torah secrets.
My soul has such a strong desire to see the secrets of the holy manuscripts of his holy brilliance. If it would be possible to arrange for me that a scribe will copy your wonderful pamphlets, I would be joyously willing to pay all expenses, just so that I could receive the light beams earlier (before they are published), which would refresh my heart in this great Land.
My exhausting activities from bearing the burden of the Nation of Hashem who are in the process of returning [to the Land], may the Exalted one bless them, are great. Therefore, I am compelled to be brief in the place that my heart tells me to write at length. [Just the process of writing to you] allows me to gaze at the beauty of the glow of the honor and sanctity of your Torah in my imagination, as I concentrate on having my words reach opposite the light of the holy candelabrum of pure gold, referring to you, my honored master. Indeed, I have become intertwined with you with a divine bond, through the depths of the heart.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part II
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael – part II
#229 Date and Place: 13 Tishrei 5670 (1909), Yafo
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 Excerpts of Letter on Shemitta – #289 – part I
Date and Place: 6 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Concern for Communal Kashrut Standards – #288, 290
Date and Place: 4 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya The State of Religion in Eretz Yisrael – #277 – part I
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 9 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Excitement over a Friend’s New Newspaper – #319
Date and Place: 4 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot
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.
