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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : I am writing to you with tears and the blood of my heart. This is one of several times that I have received from you letters full of painful matters. However, I judge you in a meritorious way, as I am assuming that [concern for] the Torah makes you upset. On the other hand, it is possible for a Torah scholar, especially one who lives in Eretz Yisrael, to choose a more pleasant and proper writing style.
Believe me that I never thought of being one who fights with others, Heaven forbid, and it is always my way to go against my opinion because of the opinions of my friends. If I would have had an inkling that the matter of the sesame oil [for Pesach use] would be the basis for grudges and quarreling, I would not have gotten involved in it at all, even though my opinion is that the leniency is simple. However, since I and our rabbinical court (of Yafo) already issued the ruling, how can I turn myself into one who changes his mind, when in truth I have not changed my mind at all? I do not have time now to answer you on all of your specific halachic claims, and truthfully all of the points are superfluous on this simple matter. Even if I would have, Heaven forbid, made a mistake on the matter of a doubt regarding the minhag [of kitniyot], it would have been proper to be tolerant of me and to gloss over the matter with love. This is especially so since my rabbinical approbation was only for Yafo and the moshavot, and if people elsewhere use it, it is not my responsibility to protest the matter.
Regarding [selling fields to non-Jews before] Shemitta, I was not, after all, the first one who ruled leniently, and the path was already paved by the brilliant rabbis, Rav Yitzchak Elchanan of Kovna and the Sephardi rabbi, Rav Yaakov Shaul Elyashar. My father-in-law, "the Aderet," agreed to it for the previous Shemitta year. Notably, if not for the rabbinical permission, people would have worked the land in violation of Halacha, and the matter would have caused major breaches in other matters of Judaism. This is because one who acts on his own to violate the Torah will sink into all sorts of bad things, Heaven forbid. In contrast, if they act based on a lenient ruling, even if it is a tenuous one, it does not cause breaches. I followed that which I believed in, and I think that it is proper for you and every Torah scholar to judge me meritoriously.
Regarding the milk, I did what I could. I called the owners of the milk and threatened them, and they agreed in writing and with a solemn obligation that they would be present when the milking took place. What else could I have done? Hashem knows that I desire to fix whatever I can in halachic matters, it is just that I do not have the power to do it. Also regarding ketubot, it is difficult for me to reverse old matters, which have already been entrenched in many holy cities. Still, I raise the matter at every opportunity that it is better to write ketubot by hand than to rely on printed ketubot, and whoever listens, listens.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
197 - Excerpts of Letter on Shemitta – #289 – part II
198 - Deflecting Criticism – #291
199 - Ties to Religiously Controversial Events/Organizations 1. #293
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Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael
#222 Date and Place: 2 Elul 5669 (1909), Rechovot
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 Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part IV
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
Date and Place: 5 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot (probably)
Igrot Hare’aya Keeping Shemitta Partially – #272
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook; Date and Place: 2 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
