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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : I just received my good friend’s letter. I am very surprised that you assume my words have false intentions. Why would anyone think I would force those who do not agree with the lenient [Shemitta] ruling to eat what is forbidden according to their opinion? My intention is only to stand in the breach against those who cast aspersions on those who come to settle Eretz Yisrael and have no choice but to rely on the well-known leniency, which has a basis in the Talmud and poskim. These aspersions damage the Yishuv spiritually and physically.
The physical damage is that it is impossible for everyone to keep the laws of Shemitta without uprooting it [through sale]. If they will not export the produce, e.g., wine, oranges, almonds, the land will be truly desolate. This will ruin the New Yishuv and, with it, certainly the Old Yishuv, as one who looks with open eyes sees that the two are intertwined.
The spiritual danger is that if a prohibition would be publicized, it would, for completely religious Jews, close the door to coming to Eretz Yisrael to build it through planting, sowing, and agricultural commerce. Then only those who throw religion out behind them will come [for these purposes], thereby causing an immeasurable drop in Judaism in Eretz Yisrael. Now, although irreligious Jews also come, every moshava has Jews who are connected to Torah and fear of Hashem. They hold important positions in their communities and strengthen religious institutions, e.g., kashrut. I have received letters, as expected, saying that no rich person, even if G-d-fearing, will invest in Eretz Yisrael at this time, when we do not see miracles, if Shemitta will uproot the foundations of his finances.
[The second spiritual damage (which we have seen before) is that if the rabbis are stringent and religious people feel compelled to ignore them, it pushes them toward generally not listening to rabbis.] Therefore, anyone who can predict the future and wants to serve Hashem not with pipe dreams but with clear, calculated logic (as proper for one whom Hashem gave mental capacity), will conclude that we must be careful to not lose the leniency of selling the land. This has been practiced for three Shemitta years, and the leading rabbis of the time in Eretz Yisrael did not protest it in practice. It has justifications in Halacha, as everyone with straight intellect will admit. Why should you be surprised that I come out against anyone who calls many of our fellow Jewish brethren evil people and thereby cause spiritual and physical destruction to the Land of our Fathers? On the other hand, who would fight against individuals who want to be stringent on themselves (certainly, it is not my intention)!?
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
209 - Public Response to Zealous Defense of Rav Kook – #308
210 - Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part I
211 - Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part II
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It is not at all the Torah’s way to enhance observance based on fear of punishment. We must determine from Torah sources if there is room for leniency in a case of need. If leniency is correct, we should not connect punishments to the leniency, as His Torah is not a fake. We should inspect different actions and attributes that are prone to mistakes, as the great righteous people have done over the generations.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale That Turned Out Not Happening – part II
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale that Turned Out Not Happening – part III
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Multiple Agreements and Parties – part IV
based on final ruling of 80082 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
Date and Place: 5 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot (probably)
Igrot Hare’aya Concern for Communal Kashrut Standards – #288, 290
Date and Place: 4 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part IV
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
