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- Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Answer: It is an honor to learn Torah with people, all the more so with a soldier for whom Halacha is front and center. We will discuss principles and address some scenarios.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (654)
Rabbi Daniel Mann
563 - Ask the Rabbi: Barchu Later than the Normal End of Tefilla
564 - Ask the Rabbi: Accepting Shabbat Early during Army Service.
565 - Ask the Rabbi: Basketball Swap?
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Logically, making Shabbat early when the need to do melacha is expected during tosefet Shabbat is like setting up the need by entering the ship. It is unclear how high the chance of doing melacha needs to be for this to apply. In most cases, it depends if one has a shift or an operation at that time.
One pertinent question is why you are considering accepting Shabbat early. On a weekly basis, few men actively accept Shabbat early, in the way that [Ashkenazi] women do with candle lighting (see Shulchan Aruch and Rama, OC 263:10). Men do not accept Shabbat at that time (and must not if they need to daven Mincha). Some make a declaration of accepting Shabbat after Mincha, but this is not mainstream practice or required according to most poskim (see Yabia Omer VII, OC 34; Living the Halachic Process III, C-4). Rather, tosefet Shabbat is fulfilled by refraining from melacha at least a few minutes before bein hashemashot. It is detrimental to actively accept Shabbat when there is a good chance one would need to do melachot in those minutes.
The question is if soldiers want to accept Shabbat early to enable davening Ma’ariv (with a minyan), Kiddush, and/or a seuda before a shift? Based on the above, entering the situation requires that it includes facilitating a mitzva. What counts as a mitzva? The Tur (OC 248) cites Rabbeinu Tam that a business trip counts as a mitzva, whereas a pleasure trip is a non-mitzva. Many require a real mitzva, such as traveling to making aliya. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 248:4) rules like the stringent approach, but the Rama says that some follow Rabbeinu Tam, and they should not be criticized.
According to the approach that one needs a real mitzva, it is unclear whether doing the mitzvot of Shabbat during tosefet in a case that he can do the mitzvot in a non-optimal way (e.g., later, without a minyan, with cold food, while tired) counts. The policy of the IDF Rabbinate is that one should not accept Shabbat early if he can fulfill the mitzvot of the night after the shift. If not, one should eat his meal before the shift as a weekday meal and have a minor meal after returning from the shift. This reflects the correct general approach that one being exacting in avoiding melacha on Shabbat, even under extenuating circumstances, is more crucial than ideal fulfillment of the positive mitzvot of the day under such circumstances.
Such a general policy is for standard cases. Circumstances vary, both concerning halachic distinctions and practical concerns of the "army-on-Shabbat experience." We would expect an expert army chaplain (as a high-ranking one told me) to weigh the specifics of a given case to determine if it fits the general guidelines or whether accepting Shabbat early might be worthwhile.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions Ask the Rabbi: Forgot to Remove Tefillin Before Musaf of Rosh Chodesh
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
