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These kinds of sentences, circulated by very specific people, assume that there is a separation between the citizens and the state. The mindset is that the State of Israel is a kind of "service provider" and the citizen is the customer. Once this is the way of thinking, it is also clear what "I deserve", and woe betide those who will not give it to me.
This week's Torah portion Teruma, deals with the contributions that the Israelites brought for the building of the Tabernacle. The word teruma in Hebrew is derived from lehitromem, to ascend; to succeed in transcending personal egoism and connecting to something bigger. Every detail of the Tabernacle eventually connected to the entire structure. The ability to contribute to the whole comes about due to the individual seeing themself as a partner with the whole and not as a bystander.
There definitely is room for harsh criticism of specific people in the country, but the contributor’s position is that of a partner, not a customer. Just as couples can criticize each other, and just as there is friction between parents and children – and at the same time, the healthy situation is that they see themselves as one unit, and in any case the criticism will be practical, less virulent and without threats.
Those who are in such a mental position also know how to appreciate the contribution of others. As a citizen evacuated from the city of Sderot and staying in a hotel for the past months, I remind myself from time to time that in other countries where civilians are forced to evacuate due to war or natural disaster – refugees are not always settled in hotels, nor receive benefits from the government (!) and get a never-ending embrace from all sectors of the population. The people of Israel love to gripe but also know how to contribute wholeheartedly.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
