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Beit Midrash
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Recipient: Yekutiel Menkowitz, a wealthy Jew from Vilna, who had great love for the Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael and was in touch with many of its leaders.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
165 - Stamping Out a Challenge to a Moshava Rabbi
166 - Hoping to Create a Kosher Ship to Palestine
167 - Cooperation between Rabbis of the New Yishuv
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Body: I received long ago your dear letter about the idea of making one of the [European] ships kosher. I "knocked on several doors" on the matter looking for supporters and helpers. Unfortunately, "the gates" have not yet opened for me, as each one exaggerates and says it is impossible. I personally have not given up hope and am prepared to act on this matter as best I can.
I have just given letters to a rabbinic emissary to take to the council in Odessa and the Russian [shipping] agency there. We will see what Hashem will have come of it. I share your conviction that this would increase the number of wealthy Jews and Jewish leaders to come to the Holy Land. On the heels of such people, who are blessed in Hashem’s eyes, there will be a blessing to the Holy Land and a great strengthening of the emerging liberation of Israel, with Hashem’s help.
2. No to Attempt to Broaden the Heter Mechira – #198
Recipient: Moshe Leib Lilienblum, a writer and member of the Haskala Movement.
Body: You know that the Yishuv is my soul’s life. I knew, before I publicized the rules of the Heter Mechira, how the matter needs to work, both regarding the needs of the farmers and of the workers. I was well aware that some believe in extreme leniency in these matters, but this is not my inclination. After all, just as we need a Land, so we need a religion. We also need to entrench the idea that the nation must not forget the institution of Shemitta, just as its memory and our affection for it is alive in our souls.
Every Jew must know that Eretz Yisrael is not only superior to other lands regarding his body, but also concerning his eternal soul. This is the only way to elevate the flame of the love of Zion in practice and continue it for generations.
The matter you raise does not greatly impact agricultural workers. There are four Torah-level elements of work (Rav Kook required that these be done by non-Jews) – sowing, harvesting fruit, harvesting grains, and pruning. As it is, almost all sowing is done by non-Jewish workers, and no tragedy will befall the Yishuv if the "Shabbat of the Land" will be recognizable by means of some change in a minority of places. Regarding harvesting and pruning, I have already made provisions for leniency, just that farmers should not apply them themselves but must get a ruling from a rabbinic authority. The same thing is true of plowing. Regarding planting saplings, I only forbade it when this is done for patches that are for beautification and expansion and for crops that are not important economically.
I never thought that the Council wanted to get involved in such questions. Therefore, I request that you suggest to the Council to sign the sales authorization without delay. Realize that I received from Paris a form signed personally by the Baron.
Please know that the farmers are very happy with the arrangements with the Heter, and they know the situation better than those who are concerned for them from a distance. I also do not understand what the question of how lenient to be regarding work has to do with not signing the authorization, which, either way, must be done.
That which you wrote that Rav Shlomo Mohilever o.b.m. did not require a sale to permit Rabbinically forbidden work, I do not agree with this approach at all, and Yiftach in his generation has the authority of Shmuel in his generation (Rosh Hashana 25b).
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Connecting Disciplines in Torah Study
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook 103 – part III
Igrot Hare’aya Semi-solicited Advice to Calm Down Petach Tikva
#227 Date and Place: 8 Tishrei 5669, Yafo
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part I
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Public Response to Zealous Defense of Rav Kook – #308
Date and Place: 15 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
