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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : I must inform you, esteemed scholar, what I was planning to do from the outset regarding the general sale of the land of the Jewish community of Eretz Yisrael to undo the obligations of Shemitta. I decided to do it in a way that fulfills the maximum number of opinions. Therefore, I came up with seals, that have engraved upon them that the price [of the produce] during Shemitta shall be just for the equipment used and for the toil (not for the produce’s value). This removes from the money paid the sanctity of Shemitta and makes the commerce done with them, as one in which the value of Shemitta produce is swallowed up.
I informed all who discussed these matters with me that I wanted to prepare forms of hefker (revoking ownership), so that each [farmer] should relinquish ownership of any produce in his field that might have Shemitta status and transfer its control to a rabbinical court. Then, the court would formally appoint the farmers to represent them in doing whatever is necessary to sell the produce in a permitted manner, i.e., by receiving the value of the equipment and their toil.
It is just that from the outset I agreed that since the sale of the land has a halachic basis, to the extent that in other Shemitta years people relied upon the sale without other factors, we do not have to be exacting regarding the price the farmers take for the equipment and toil, since it is explicitly stated that the money is not for the produce. We should not pressure the people of the agricultural settlements [in manners that were not done during previous Shemitta years], as they already have the pressure of difficult financial standing – may Hashem elevate their prospects.
However, due to the tumult raised by criticism [of the sale], some of my ideas may now be more difficult to carry out. Still, it is my hope that a lot will be improved by means of this halachically preferable system, even though it is a new idea that was not employed in the past. If we speak to [the farmers] peacefully, they will do whatever we ask of them, as long as they will not be damaged in terms of finance or respect on this matter that is at the heart of their basic sustenance. [It is different when people] cast aspersions on the polished and accepted leniency, which is broadly destructive to all of them, and [tries to] takes away their basic ability to live. It is not surprising that they are compelled to stand up for their lives, the lives of their household (as their children ask for bread) and for the life of the Yishuv. [We] hope for a future in which the Yishuv will expand until Hashem will bring the light of a full salvation on His Name and lot, may it come speedily.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
217 - Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part IV
218 - Adding Elements to Strengthen the Heter Mechira – #313
219 - Reassuring His Parents – #314 – part I
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I hope that the illustrious rav, in his piety and pure heart, will express his opinion for the sake of peace and the welfare of the Jewish community. May his words be accepted willfully by all those who fear Hashem and care about His Name and thereby stop the fighting, so peace can dwell among the Holy Land’s scholars.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Connecting Disciplines in Torah Study
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook #103 – part II
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 Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part II
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Language of Instruction for Rav Kook’s Yeshiva – #325
Date and Place: 4 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya The State of Religion in Eretz Yisrael – #277 – part II
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 9 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Excerpts of Letter on Shemitta – #289 – part I
Date and Place: 6 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
