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Beit Midrash
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Before the giving of the Torah, we were also told about the importance of being holy, as we were urged to become a "mamlechet kohanim v’goy kadosh (a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation)" (Shemot 19:6). Is there a connection between the two exhortations to be kadosh?
Rashi explains that a kingdom of "kohanim" refers to officers, but he does not explain what a kadosh nation means. The Ramban says that the former refers to servants/helpers of Hashem, and a holy nation means to cling to Him, invoking our pasuk of kedoshim teh’yu as corroboration.
The Rambam’s son, R. Avraham, surprises with a different direction. He speaks of kedusha on an individual basis and on a collective basis. To understand this, let us take a look at the context (Shemot 19:1-10) of this idea that the whole nation is to be made up of kohanim and holy people. The Torah describes the preparations of Moshe and Bnei Yisrael for the great events at the foot of Mt. Sinai. The willingness of this group of people to accept the rigors of following the word of Hashem even before hearing all of the precepts in advance makes them a special nation, dear to Hashem. This is the collective holiness that R. Avraham spoke of.
Am Yisrael as a collective is holy. Certainly, when the people are united, this finds greatest expression, and we can apply "Your nation are all righteous" (Yeshayahu 60:21). In order for Am Yisrael to be considered a true collective, it needs to be free from the servitude of Egypt and possess its own Land. It requires independence, which is an intrinsic part of this ideal situation. An independent Jewish state is a holy thing that we must guard to the fullest extent and must be partners in its defense. This unified collective is called "K’nesset Yisrael."
Am Yisrael is Hashem’s "bride," and therefore it cannot be enslaved to or in the domain of anyone else. The midrash (Tanchuma, Kedoshim 2) captures this concept, comparing the situation to a king who married a woman and said, "Since you have become married to me, I am the king and you are the queen, and each of us is an honor to the other." This, explains the midrash, is the reason the root kadosh (meaning holy and meaning betrothed) is used in the people’s preparation for the acceptance of the Torah at Sinai (Shemot 19:10). As Hashem’s "wife," we became a mamlechet kohanim v’goy kadosh.
There is also an obligation of holiness in each and every individual. This encompasses the multitude of specific mitzvot of the Torah and all of the Ten Commandments. As we cherish our national independence and improvements in unity and connection to the collective, which makes us "all righteous," we will continue to strive to use pleasant ways to try to strengthen the individual holiness of as many as possible. This will bring on the next steps of our already begun national liberation.
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.
