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Beit Midrash
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Recipient: Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva of Slutzk. Rav Isser Zalman overlapped with Rav Kook in the Volozhin yeshiva and was also a great lover of Eretz Yisrael. Years later, they would reunite in Jerusalem, with Rav Kook as the Chief Rabbi and Rav Isser Zalman as the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Etz Chaim, where many of Rav Kook’s most prominent supporters taught and studied. Rav Meltzer was the author of Even Ha’ezel on the Rambam, and, of significance here, was the editor of the Torah Journal, Yagdil Torah.
Body: I have received the Yagdil Torah journal, including your open letter. During these days of great preoccupation with the holy work that is placed on my weak shoulders, which is so tiring, I have not secured the strength to pay my debt of respect and love for you, my respected colleague and thank you for the desirable flowers (the journal) with which you have honored me with the first edition. I hope that the publication will spread and that it will be adorned with many and great desired fruit, people who support your hand and those who stand behind your flag, helping in practical and spiritual ways. Then the matter will grow, and there will be offshoots to increase Torah and widen its goals.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
153 - Dreaming of Deep Ideas with a Likeminded Person
154 - Deeper Literature
155 - Deeper Literature
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Now let me write a bit about the second stated purpose of your journal (to give inspiration to those with a Torah background who have been drawn to the works of those who are not true to Torah beliefs). Undeniably, there is great value in literature that is presented with all of the modern tools in order to strengthen and repair the many problems in the House of Israel. However, oh friends whom I love with heart and soul, we must be ready to provide more than words of encouragement that come from the heart – which are indeed sometimes good. Rather we mainly require words of intellectual depth coming from the thinking mind.
The ability to do this will return to us when we pave a path for the elite, outstandingly talented among the young Torah scholars and make sure that they are conversant in the in-depth part of the Torah (i.e., Kabbalistic/philosophical thought), which is the source of every lofty thought and every delicate and holy feeling. By increasing knowledge in this abandoned part of the Torah, and by adorning it, in all of its subjects and tools, we will quickly create men of the heart with great power, who will be able to speak in the city gates ideas that will return a spirit of life to our nation’s heart. Our nation is fainting from terrible thirst for the word of Hashem.
It is true that not all minds or all hearts are fit for lofty spiritual intellectuality and for internal holy emotions, which I mention. However, Israel is not a widower (i.e., we have many resources). From the choice, young, holy "flowers" of Torah scholars there will always be, and certainly now when such skills are crucial, a significant number of people whose spirit leans in the direction of serious study of spirituality, with great toil and intellectual depth, desire, and internal happiness.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Multiple Agreements and Parties – part IV
based on final ruling of 80082 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
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
Igrot Hare’aya Possibilities of Creating Religious Moshavot – #284 – part II
Date and Place: 1 Adar II, 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Excitement over a Friend’s New Newspaper – #319
Date and Place: 4 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot
Igrot Hare’aya Keeping Shemitta Partially – #272
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook; Date and Place: 2 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
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.
