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Parshat Yitro teaches us that Israel prepared physically and spiritually for 3 entire days to get ready to receive the Torah (19, 14-16). Similarly, we constantly try teaching our children patience, especially when Israeli's can generally improve on this particular trait. Militarily, we would like another lightning-quick Entebbe raid, or a 6 Day War, but forget that usually only G-d works in 6 days, but man usually needs a lot more time for significant changes. We know but sometimes forget, that the best things in life don't involve instant gratification, but rather long-term investment and accordingly, longstanding pleasure. Especially the longest, even eternal (!) redemption.
Some say that Hamas has actually forever changed world warfare- where extensive tunnels and mass kidnapping of hostages have proven to complicate our retaliation. Others say that this strategy will only work against Israel which is unfortunately held to a different standard, and where even though the halacha was always not to ransom at an exorbitant cost (Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 252), historically we often did. Just like today, we always had a sometimes too-soft Jewish heart! Either way, our present war is a lot longer & more complicated than ever before.
Rav Kook writes that "Reality does not have 'wings' to fly as fast as dreams do" (Orot, p. 52), especially in the process of redemption- the biggest and most long-lasting revolution in world history. This war is surely a significant step forward in this ge'ula process regarding many issues, so accordingly, we need patience. Our world was created, and to this day, is generally based upon slow but sure evolution.
In fact, this is one of the major lessons of Tu BiShvat. As opposed to vegetables which grow quickly and maximum only last several years, the tree takes much longer to produce fruit, but it can then live even several thousand years (e.g. some of the olive trees in Chevron). Even after fruit grows, there is the mandatory "patience" of orla which we cannot eat for the first 3 years, and then must redeem them in the 4th (r'vai). Chazal teach us that even forbidden pleasures are all eventually permitted in one way or another (Chullin 109b), just that often we must wait 6 hours. This disciplines us to succeed in all future challenges (as proven by the "Stanford Marshmallow Experiment").
True, emotionally we "cannot wait" for our sisters and brothers to come home, but "the eternal nation is not deterred by a long-journey" (based upon 2 sayings of R. Kook, pp. 54-55). ""מרחוק ה' נראה לי ואהבת עולם אהבתיך, "From long ago, the Lord appeared to me; With everlasting love have I loved you" (Yirmiyahu 31, 2).
Shabbat Shalom & Tu B'Shvat Same'ach! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
