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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
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Shavuot is the only Jewish holiday whose exact date is not found in the Torah. Indeed, it is observed on the "50th day," following seven full weeks of counting, starting with "the day after the shabbat" (Vayikra 23:16) i.e., the day after the first day of Pesach. Since fundamentally, Iyar and Sivan can each be either 29 or 30 days, the date of Shavuot is not set (prior to the setting of the calendar 16-17 centuries ago).
The Torah was given at Sinai, a region whose location we know, but the specific mountain is unclear. We do not find that Am Yisrael ever turned Mt. Sinai into a "holy site," at which one should serve Hashem, or attributed special halachot to it.
One can perform the Torah’s commandments only in a physical place (preferably, Eretz Yisrael), and while living under a framework of time. On the other hand, one can "break free" from the physical constraints of time and place – through Torah study! When learning Torah, we try to separate ourselves from our physical place and connect to the Makom (play on word between place and a reference to Hashem) of the world. We should raise ourselves up to the Heavens, which is also a spiritual term, and is also called Makom (see last week’s d’var Torah). Torah study enables us to build lofty spiritual worlds, beyond the physical world, that are not governed by time.
Indeed, Torah study frees us from the bonds of time, because Tanach came to us from the Heavens, and the Heavens is a place that is not a place and does not have time. This is a reason that one of the principles of biblical exegesis is "there is no earlier and later in the Torah." The Torah is a lesson in existence, which relates to all elements of time – past, present, and future. The thoughts that Torah evokes remove physical constraints to freedom – "there is no free person like one who studies Torah."
The tablets given at Sinai were "produced by G-d, and the writing was the writing of G-d, charut (lit., engraved) on the tablets." Pirkei Avot (6:2) instructs to read it as cheirut (freedom) on the tablets. (This connects us to Pesach and its companion holiday, Yom Ha’atzmaut.)
The Torah is compared to light. Light is at the edge of the material world; on its other side is energy. The speed of light is one of the material world’s boundaries, and it is part of the Einsteinian equation that connects physical mass to energy.
The Torah was given, starting with the Ten Commandments. The world was created with ten divine utterings (Avot 5:1), the first being "Let there be light" (Bereishit 1:3). This hints at the connection between light and Torah.
We pray that the light of the Torah will illuminate the world. Let all nations seek Torah in Jerusalem, the "light of the world." May evil be destroyed, and goodness flourish. May the hostages return, the injured be healed, and consolation be felt in the houses of our dear fallen brethren. May unity lead us in our personal and national lives, on our way to full liberation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
