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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : I now respond to your argument that I have no reason to fight (promote halachic arguments) because I have already published [my book on the laws of Shemitta,] Shabbat Ha’aretz. I already told my illustrious friend that I purposely did not set out [the halachic analysis] in a fully clear manner, organized and sufficiently deep. There are certain angles and clear reasons that I totally omitted. The reason behind this is that I did not want the leniency to be too entrenched. In that way, it would always be considered a ruling for exceptional times and a matter that was permitted only due to pressing circumstances.
When one broadens the discussion along the approach of Torah analysis, in the way it has always been practiced in Jewish scholarship, the prohibition would be weakened too much, which I do not want to do under any circumstances. Although if there was an absolute need to present the matter in the clearest manner, I still would not stop pointing out on a regular basis that the leniency is for difficult circumstances to be considered anew based on the times. But still, I prefer to not get to that point, and I would leave the matter with the flimsy presentation that I gave it in the introduction [to Shabbat Ha’aretz].
In truth, one cannot talk, in regard to the matter of Shemitta in Eretz Yisrael, about the customary practice. After all, as long as there was little Jewish-owned [agricultural] land, there was no set custom, because there was, for a long time, a consensus that Shemitta does not apply to non-Jewish fields. It turns out, then, that the present Yishuv created the question, which was born together with the very difficult circumstances. When you deal with a new question, you need to include all of the levels of halachic doubt.
The doubts include the following – A. the basic obligation of Shemitta, whether it is from the Torah or Rabbinic [in our times]; B. The doubt about which year Shemitta is. (Although there is a consensus on which year to observe, it has not been clarified in a manner that there is no doubt. It is clear only that we should not observe more than one year, whereas the year was chosen based on the approach of the Rambam. That does not mean that there is no longer doubt about the year, and the doubt can be combined with other doubts [to arise at leniency]). C. Also, the fact that there is a land tax and the nature of the [Turkish] laws of land regarding ownership, which treat all the land as the property of the kingdom, making the farmer just a renter who receives 90% of the produce according to the law, and probably only 6 or 7 portions, are among the points that lead to leniency in the proper manner.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
213 - Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part II
214 - Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part III
215 - Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part IV
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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)
Igrot Hare’aya Semi-solicited Advice to Calm Down Petach Tikva
#227 Date and Place: 8 Tishrei 5669, Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Departure of an Uncle to Eretz Yisrael
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Vol. I, #1 , p. 1-2 – part II
P'ninat Mishpat Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part I
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Adding Elements to Strengthen the Heter Mechira – #313
Date and Place: 21 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya What Requires Protest? – #279
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 15 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part I
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Date and Place: 11 Shevat 5670, Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part II
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.