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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)
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
