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Beit Midrash
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Melachim I, 5:27-30 lists numerically the tens of thousands of workers who were sent to prepare the materials for the building project. These p’sukim seem to contradict later p’sukim: "All of the people who remained from the Emori, the Chitti, ..., who were not from Bnei Yisrael, their children who remained after them in the Land, whom Bnei Yisrael could not remove, Shlomo made them a workers’ force to this day. From Bnei Yisrael, Shlomo did not take a servant for they were his men of war ..." (ibid. 9:20-22). These p’sukim imply that the members of Bnei Yisrael were not forcibly enlisted for the project.
The latter perek mentions further taxes for the building of the House of Hashem, Shlomo’s own house, the milo (the palace of Paroh’s daughter = Bat Paroh), the wall of Yerushalayim, and cities throughout his kingdom. The navi also mentions an extensive bureaucratic apparatus; no official in charge of the area of Yehuda is mentioned.
The solution to this whole matter is likely as follows. Originally, Shlomo concentrated on building the Beit Hamikdash. For this purpose, he enlisted just the remnants of the former nations of the land. Bnei Yisrael were happy that the Beit Hamikdash was being built and without the need for them to be forced laborers. Eventually, Shlomo decided to expand the capital city surrounding the Beit Hamikdash. This included the ostentatious palace of Bat Paroh, as well as many national building projects. This forced him to enlist more workers, including from Bnei Yisrael. The heavy burden created discontent and attempts to avoid Shlomo’s demands, which were put down by force (the whips we referred to last week). Yerovam, who was in charge of the "labor of the house of Yosef" (ibid. 11:28), was particularly dismayed over the work on Bat Paroh’s palace.
It should be no surprise that with Shlomo’s death and the attempt to coronate Rechavam, Yeravam returned from exile in Egypt and raised the issue of the monarchy’s heavy handedness. Similarly, we can understand why Chazal tied together the building of the Beit Hamikdash and the marriage to Bat Paroh with the following statement. "When Shlomo married Bat Paroh, the angel Gavriel drove a stick into the sea, which caused an accumulation of debris upon which the great metropolis of Rome was built" (Shabbat 56b).
Let us pray that we will merit seeing the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash, a rebuilt capital of Yerushalayim with pleasant ways and with a stress on the donation, and the uplifting of the spirit and the heart, even if it will include an element of tetzaveh (the name of the parasha, meaning, command).
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
