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Beit Midrash
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- Igrot Hare’aya
Body: I received today your open letter, and I am very sorry about your dear soul’s pain, for thinking I would harbor resentment towards you, Heaven forbid. I know that all your actions, distinguished Torah scholar, are for Heaven’s sake. So, how can I resent you, even if you did something against me. Especially, we should consider that the matter relates to strengthening the Rabbinical Court of Yerushalayim, which is very important. If I could, I would be one of the first to protest against those who stood up to denigrate the members of the court. What is the connection between differences of opinion on Halacha and denigration? It causes me great pain that the matter left its proper arena.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
227 - Excitement over a Friend’s New Newspaper – #319
228 - Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
229 - Language of Instruction for Rav Kook’s Yeshiva – #325
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Generally, I ask my respected dear friend not to cause himself any emotional pain and certainly no damage, by publicizing our emotional bond and trustworthy love, when I, unfortunately have many opponents. "Your love is better than wine" (Shir Hashirim 1:2) – but speech is bad for wine (Kritot 6a). May the Rock of Israel speedily reveal the light of His redemption and joy of His sanctity. May we all be comforted with Yerushalayim, as Hashem speaks in peace to His nation and His pious people.
Discussing Hebrew Word with Ben Yehuda – #324
Date and Place: 16 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot
Recipient and Background: Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the famous philologist, generally considered the father of Modern Hebrew. As Ben Yehuda tried to base Modern Hebrew on biblical and rabbinic Hebrew over Jewish history, Rav Kook was one of the scholars from whom he sought insight.
Summary: Ben Yehuda asked Rav Kook for the source of "hechsher" meaning rabbinic certification of kashrut. (In Talmudic contexts, it refers to a liquid preparing food to become impure or generally facilitating halachically significant matters).
"Ktav hechsher" is used for certification in the Chayei Adam (127:3) and Shaarei Teshuva. "Ktav" alone is found in the Responsa of Mahari Anzel, Torat Chesed (Lublin), Pri Etz Hadar, and Rav Shlomo Kluger and rabbis of his generation. It is also found regarding the suitability of etrogim. (Rav Kook could not guarantee where exactly in each work it was found, as he did not have access to all of the works.) It is also found regarding ribbit (usury) in many Sephardic works, including the Mabit, Knesset Hagedola, Birkei Yosef, and Maharashdam.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale that Turned Out Not Happening – part III
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Profits from Formerly Joint Swimming Pool – part
(based on ruling 81110 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Possibilities of Creating Religious Moshavot – #284 – part II
Date and Place: 1 Adar II, 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part II
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
