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- Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Answer: The Rambam (Shabbat 23:7) says that washing dishes is forbidden (based on Shabbat 118a) because it is "like fixing" the dishes, but since it is forbidden only if done for use after Shabbat, it must be based on hachana, which tells us about how the Rambam defines it. The Ra’avad (ad loc.) argues that it is forbidden because he is toiling on Shabbat for a weekday.
The halachot of hachana are elusive, because several gemarot and accepted rulings of Rishonim seem to ignore it. There are opinions that only "transformative" actions (seemingly following the Rambam’s approach) or more taxing activities (seemingly following the Ra’avad’s) (see the development of Eliya Rabba’s (308:8) thesis in Pri Eliezer III, p. 616) or actions that finish a process (see Chayei Adam II, 153:6) are included. While in cases with lenient characteristics and/or need, poskim entertain leniencies (see ibid.; Mishna Berura 667:5), in general we apply hachana expansively, following the Magen Avraham (667:3), who forbade even bringing wine for Havdala on Shabbat.
If changing mantels had halachic rules, it might impact your question. For example, if it needed to be done by the next laining, we could compare it to rolling a sefer Torah on Shabbat to the right place for the upcoming Yom Tov’s laining, which most poskim forbid (Mishna Berura 667:5). However, we have not found such halachot and don’t believe they exist. Rather, people (some more than others) like to be "on the right page" chronologically. The shul looks unprofessional if the chagim and/or Yamim Noraim adornments are still around much thereafter and for some gabbaim and/or shuls, doing it promptly is significant as a matter of pride.
We can now compare it to a different case. Although it is forbidden to make a bed on Shabbat to sleep in it on Motzaei Shabbat (Shabbat 113a), it is permitted to straighten it out so that it is aesthetically appropriate according to the household’s Shabbat standards (Magen Avraham 302:6; Mishna Berura 302:19). Poskim presume the same is true even if it is more significant for him as preparation for sleep that night. On the other hand, there seems to be a proof, from the halacha (see above) not to wash dishes on Shabbat after one finished his last meal that to permit potential hachana based on Shabbat, that benefit must be quite significant (at least in comparison to the weekday benefit). One can ask: Besides having utensils for the next meal, don’t people prefer not having dirty dishes around their kitchen?! Apparently, in comparison to the positive benefit of having clean dishes, not having dirty dishes around is not halachically significant.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (654)
Rabbi Daniel Mann
597 - Ask the Rabbi: Changing Diapers in the Proximity of Sefarim
598 - Ask the Rabbi: Switching Mantels Back on Shabbat
599 - Ask the Rabbi: Chanuka Lighting Soon Before Leaving House
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It is difficult to claim the action of switching the mantels does not fall under the realm of hachana. It is not trivial in terms of time/effort, there was no special need, and it was clearly for after Shabbat. While the switching might be less transformative for the sifrei Torah than washing is for dishes, at least the great majority of poskim would forbid it.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
