Yeshiva
Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body: I will tell you a story I heard. In the days of the brilliant Rav Leib of Kovna, of blessed memory, the dignitaries of Kovna wanted the brilliant, pious Rav Yisrael Salanter to settle in Kovna. When they asked Rav Leib [whether he agrees with this idea], he told them the following.
If he wants a formal rabbinical position, fine. However, if he wants to live as a private person, I am not happy about it. When they asked him why, he said: Even the most brilliant man and the most lofty righteous person will not be able to understand the mindset of one who shoulders the yoke of ruling for the masses and the anguish he goes through. Thus, he cannot give the rabbi the benefit of the doubt about his decisions. (Ed. note – it seems clear that Rav Eisenbach had complaints about something Rav Kook had ruled, and Rav Kook was intimating, that he was not in a position to understand Rav Kook’s decisions.)
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
158 - Printing of Shabbat Ha’aretz and Preparing for Parents’ Arrival – #246
159 - Difficult to Understand a Rabbi’s Ruling
160 - Teimanim in Rechovot – #258
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Date and Place: 2 Tevet 5670 (1909), Yafo
Recipient: The Council of Ekron
Body: I suggest you, distinguished people, come up with a plan regarding the youngsters who are Ottoman citizens, who are about to start working for the army. See if you can find a good way to help their families, when their lot indicates they will need to serve. We all know that those who work for the army carry the community’s load, so that it is proper that the community will notice their status. Especially notice that the askaria tax (for matters of work) will apparently be removed because of our brothers’ work. I await your prompt response.
Rafah for Bialystok? – #257
Date and Place: 14 Tevet 5670 (1909), Yafo
Recipient: Yoel Moshe Solomon, the leader of the Jerusalemites who founded the moshav of Petach Tikva, who continued to be active in settling the Land. This letter relates to the group from Bialystok, with whom Rav Kook previously discussed land in present-day Jordan.
Body: I wanted to tell you that Mr. Manishewitz from Bialystok, who came with Mr. Shatz of Lodg, on the matter of buying land in Eretz Yisrael, on behalf of a big association with significant resources, is now leaning toward acquiring land in Rafah (Rafiach in Hebrew, in today’s Gaza Strip), near El Arish, which is under British control. I agree with this. When I became aware that you know about this matter in detail, I thought to recommend to you to come here as soon as possible to discuss the matter with Mr. Manishewitz. Maybe Hashem will be with us, and we will be able to secure redemption of an important plot of land in the Holy Land.
I do not need to rush someone as diligent as you. If you cannot come today, let me know as soon as possible what your thoughts are about the association from Bialystok.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Raffle of Property in Eretz Yisrael for Tzedaka
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: – #220
P'ninat Mishpat A Commercial Rental for a Closed Business – part II
based on ruling 80047 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Excitement over a Friend’s New Newspaper – #319
Date and Place: 4 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot
Rabbis in Midrash
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Various Events FOR WHOM NOT TO VOTE
Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook stressed that Israeli politics is G-dly, so I have no problem answering this common question on a Torani blog. Also, Free-Will is a G-d-given right and obligation, to "destine one's fate" (R. Soloveichik, Kol Dodi Dofek, 67), so I obviously don't tell others how to vote. But once not a few (especially young) have already asked, a couple of personal words from experience and thoughts from chazal & Rav Kook which may be of help to others, mainly for whom NOT to vote.
P'ninat Mishpat Fallout from Failure to Install Elevator – part II
based on ruling 85007 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
