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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : [First I will respond] regarding the gymnasium (Gymnasium Herzliya, an influential irreligious high school in what became Tel Aviv). I do not see benefit from opposing it publicly, as long as it will be only negative opposition. In other words, we would first need to be able to present to the community a school that is equivalent to the gymnasium, so that the only difference between the schools will be that they break the covenant with Hashem and our school will hold with great strength the banner of the light of Hashem and His Torah. The Tachkemoni school, although I, thank G-d, have great regard for it and its leaders, still cannot compete with the gymnasium in several cultural topics. Therefore, we have to be somewhat patient and work unceasingly for the school’s improvement, as we have begun to do, until it is able to provide all that those who choose the gymnasium yearn for. Then we can boldly proclaim that there is no difference between Tachkemoni or our gymnasium and between their gymnasium, other than that the latter uproots our nation’s tree of life, i.e., belief, from the hearts of its students, whereas the former crowns itself in the honor of belief. Then our campaign’s words will be heard. We must immediately prepare our strength for this holy battle, because there is endless benefit from each moment we can do this earlier.
The matter of etrogim is very complicated as I explained in "Etz Hadar." If we make a general advertisement for the etrogim of Eretz Yisrael without distinction, it will not promote the proper fulfillment of the mitzva because there are very many (actually a great majority of the market from Eretz Yisrael), grafted etrogim from non-Jewish orchards in Eretz Yisrael. Kosher etrogim are available only from a small number of our brothers from the moshavot, which are under rabbinical supervision to ensure they are free from grafting. If it would be possible to publicize that not any etrog from Eretz Yisrael is desirable but only the supervised ones from our brothers from the moshavot, then we would attain the goal of strengthening the purity of the mitzva at a time that there is concern that it will unfortunately be lacking because of the many grafted etrogim.
Furthermore, it does not suffice to publicize [that not all etrogim from Eretz Yisrael are kosher] but to also tell all that the consensus of leading rabbis has always been that it is better to spend a lot of money for an etrog that does not look beautiful externally but is unquestionably not grafted than to buy a beautiful grafted etrog. If this truth is publicized, then the matter of kosher etrogim will be strengthened along with the development of the Jewish community of Eretz Yisrael, as Jews will plant etrog orchards when they see that people will buy their produce.
This ongoing work needs constant activity. I have already seen a public advertisement to encourage people to plant kosher etrog orchards and also let our brethren in the Diaspora know the truth about this dear mitzva, which has been slipping from Jewish hands due to the laxness in encouraging Jews to plant their fields with etrogim. I have just held up on publicizing this encouragement because this year is Shemitta, and it is definitely wrong to encourage a project that includes a lot of agricultural work.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
185 - Possibilities of Creating Religious Moshavot – #284 – part II
186 - Alternatives to Gymnasium and Grafted Etrogim – #286
187 - A Public Letter on Observance of Shemitta – #287 – part I
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Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael – part II
#229 Date and Place: 13 Tishrei 5670 (1909), Yafo
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 Profits from Formerly Joint Swimming Pool – part
(based on ruling 81110 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Igrot Hare’aya Language of Instruction for Rav Kook’s Yeshiva – #325
Date and Place: 4 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part I
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part III
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook; Date and Place: 11 Shevat 5670, Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Description of New Yeshiva’s Goals to a Supporter – #328
Date and Place: 12 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
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(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
