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Beit Midrash
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It is traditionally accepted (ed. note – with noticeable change since this was written 80 years ago) that a woman’s nature is not to create new phenomena. She is not in contact with the new. All of her honor is inward (see Tehillim 45:14). However, she watches with great care and great insistence that which she is given – more than a man does. In many homes, the "fragrance of Judaism" has waned, but the women have still preserved it in their kitchens. That is where the woman is in charge, and that is where she prevents changes from occurring.
The gemara does tell a story of criticism of a woman. She was married to a holy man, and she would fasten his tefillin to his arm. When he died, she married a tax collector, and then she would fasten the seals of a tax collector (a frowned upon profession) onto his arm (Avoda Zara 39a). That is because her level of righteousness depends on the environs she finds herself in, which sets its imprint upon her. However, once the "imprint" is set, it remains forever.
This watchfulness is especially important in our times and in our [type of] community. We (Rav Yisraeli was the founding rabbi of the Kfar Haroeh, an important religious moshav) are involved in new forms of living, or actually in the renewal of a type of life that we lost and forgot as time went on. That which is new is attractive to the heart and exciting. It is a great danger that the new will be built to a great extent on the foundation of belittling the old, without remembering that the new has a leg to stand, a future, and value only to the extent that it is based on the old.
It is important for us to stress repeatedly the side of conservatism, which includes being careful and exacting about all accepted practices. I refer not just to being careful over halachic matters but even to be careful about matters connected to the customs of the Jewish People. Even those things that are called "yikhat em" (see Mishlei 30:17), things that our mothers were careful about, are valued like laws of the Torah themselves.
There are times when people are fooled into wanting to do an action that has great prominence from an external perspective, thinking it is better than that done in a more private manner. However, the outcome is of little-to-no value, and the impression it leaves dissipates quickly and disappears as if it never existed.
Chazal proclaimed: "We only try to strengthen those who are strong" (Psikta, Naso). Only those who are in tune with the idea of strengthening will benefit from the exhortations. For them, that which is done will not be lost but will give fruit.
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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.
