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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- D'varim
We have demonstrated in the past that throughout Tanach, we find that davar is a reference to prophecies, and indeed Sefer Devarim means that it is the book of Moshe’s prophecies. So too regarding Yirmiyahu, the introductory p’sukim mean that these are the prophecies of Yirmiyahu.
There is a question we have to ask about prophets. What body part is key to their prophecy: the eyes, the ears, or the mouth? The following pasuk in Parashat Vaetchanan may help. "Hashem spoke to you from the midst of the fire; the sound of devarim you heard, and a picture you did not see, but rather a sound" (Devarim 4:12). Sound is stressed, so the important thing is hearing with the ears. After hearing, the prophet shares with the mouth. Seeing is of lesser value and is sometimes even negative. Therefore, we should not be surprised that after the story of the traverses through the desert from the time of the Exodus until soon before the entry to the Land, Moshe addresses the people with the words: "Now, Israel, listen …" (ibid. 4:1). This is followed a little later with the introduction to another important address: "Listen, Israel, to the statutes and the laws" (ibid. 5:1).
So we will posit that the ear is the most important organ, followed by the mouth and only afterward the eyes. Until recently, in order for someone to be able to speak properly, he must have had a functioning ear. With improvements in technology and medicine, in Hashem’s kindness, the situation of the hearing impaired has improved greatly.
One of the people who stressed the importance of hearing was King David, who said: "Ears You formed for me … then I said (with the mouth): Indeed I have come with the scroll of a book written about me" (Tehillim 40:7-8). One who expounded on this point is Rav Kook’s disciple, Rav David Cohen, who was known as The Nazir, in his work "The Sound of Prophecy."
We end off with a related matter that has been troubling us greatly – the inability of extremists on both sides of the political spectrum to listen and their takeover of the public discourse. The ear has another purpose, other than hearing. The ear is responsible for balance in the body. (Notice that Hebrew uses the same root for the ear and for balance.) Yes, the ear is responsible for that on a physical and on a social level. Let us pray for proper balance, which begins with people listening for the benefit of the needs of their counterparts.
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.
