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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Emor
Our mentor, Rav Shaul Yisraeli, zt"l, was one the Jewish leaders, who immediately understood the events’ great significance. He wrote about why it is so important to commemorate, celebrate, and thank Hashem on a day that was to be set aside for the re-establishment of a Jewish state, and why 5 Iyar, the day we declared our independence is important. (See Eretz Hemdah, vol. I, 1:6.)
The Chief Rabbinate at the time of Rav Herzog and Rav Uziel set the order of prayers for this occasion. At the evening prayers, we recite two mizmorei Tehillim that refer to the time of the coming of Mashiach and are part of Kabbalat Shabbat (97-98), along with three stanzas from "Lecha Dodi," written by Rav Shlomo Alkebetz, a student and friend of Rav Yosef Karo. Why did the initiators of Kabbalat Shabbat (16th century Safed) choose these psalms, and what messages are embedded in Lecha Dodi?
After the tragedy of the Expulsion from Spain, there was a spirit of anticipating liberation in the community led by Rav Yaakov Beirav, and Safed became a center of "revealed" and "hidden" Torah. Practical steps toward creating an independent state to be led by Mashiach were still just a dream, as any actions in this direction could have caused harsh reactions by the new rulers of the Land, the Ottomans. The psalms that Rav Moshe Kordavero chose for Kabbalat Shabbat deal with the coming of Mashiach, along with references to the past liberation, from Egypt. While these songs did not openly call for steps toward liberation, they safely hinted at increasing the yearnings. Shabbat was the "cover" for the feelings, with a double meaning that the Times to Come are "the times that are all Shabbat and rest forever." Lecha Dodi went further in mixing between Shabbat and liberation, using the motif of the marriage between the beloved and his/His bride, as described in Shir Hashirim. This wedding is to occur in a flourishing Land of Israel, as described there. So we can call Lecha Dodi a song about Shabbat and an "underground song" about the coming of Mashiach.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
