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- Terumah
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 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.
