YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Yom Haatzmaut
It's a time to especially appreciate the disproportionate share of Kibbutzniks in the military cemeteries and learn to emulate their ideology of the collective, and selfless giving. They never comprised more than 3% of Israeli society, but produced almost all (!) of the Prime Ministers & IDF Chiefs of Staff for the first 30 years of the State, and although to a lesser extent, supply leadership to this very day.
The present war shows a new phenomenon: that this arrow-head of leadership has clearly been transferred to the Kipot HaSrugot- the religious-Zionists. Our disproportionate share among the officers, battle units and reserves (although admittedly lacking in those early days of the State), is unfortunately also clearly expressed today in the military cemeteries.
Several days ago, I went to console the Cohen family of Sha'arei Tikva, and heard from Y'ella, Matan's mother, how this all is not coincidence. That youth who grow up not only learning g'mara but also Tanach, Mussar and Jewish philosophy, are the new arrow-head of Israel, already admired & examples to be emulated by the entire country.
Youth who grow up in homes like that of Y'ella Cohen, are nursed with the Torah of Rav Kook, & learn in Hesder Yeshivot from giants like R. Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l (rosh yeshiva of Gush Etzion), cannot forget when he analyzed society in 5 simple words: he roared: "האם איכפת לך או לא?!"- "Do you care or not" about other Jews, Israel, the non-religious…?! This is also what gets religious Zionists to be the ones making Aliya.
I once discussed with R. Eli Saddan, founder of the first pre-army Mechina in Eli, about the need to direct these living examples of religious-Zionist idealism, after leading the charge on the battle-field, to encourage those suitable, to begin a new page in Israeli politics. BezH that day is coming sooner than we thought, for if 3% of the population could once be the arrow-head, how much more so can 20%.
We must clarify, that we definitely don't want to "take over", but to the contrary, to be selfless & share. Every arrow needs a head, a Nachshon ben Aminadav, to show the ultimate idealism for all. No less important than being an arrow-head, is that religious-Zionist youth can logically & practically be the bridge between secular Zionism and non-Zionist religious Haredim. Harmonizing the best of all worlds, reviving the traditions of the heroes of Tanach, who all lived in Israel, served and led the Jewish army, spoke Hebrew and worked- Mitzvat Yishuv Eretz Yisrael (see Chatam Sofer, Sukkah 36; Rav Kook, Orot, p. 14).
Youth who have the self-discipline not to use their cell-phones on Shabbat, & express that same will-power in the IDF and all of Israeli society, can even serve as a "Light to (all of the) Nations", showing mankind how to balance modernism, religion, family, nationalism & humanism. If we were all to selflessly emulate that idealism in day to day life, we would be living in the atmosphere of Ge'ula, and won't need any more wars in the process to get us there.
Wishing you a meaningful Yom HaZikaron, and subsequently a Happy Yom HaAtzma'ut and Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
The Giving of the Torah When Should We Use Facts, Logic or Kabbala in Learning Torah?
Ein Aya Shabbat 4 7
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
