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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
Korach had two arguments against Moshe (Bamidbar 18:3). Why does a house full of sefarim require a mezuza? Why should a tallit which is colored techeilet require the techeilet strings of tzitzit? These fundamental arguments echo from generation to generation, and they break Bnei Yisrael to pieces and prevent the prevailing of peace.
A house full of sefarim represents great Torah scholars, who fully surround themselves with Torah and do not leave that holy domain. When there is such a house full with sefarim, the place’s great quality and the person’s deep connection to Torah cause him to not notice that there are all sorts of small "scrolls" (with a play on words with "events"), which might not be that impactful, but they have value because they are placed in the entrance and exit of the house. They preserve the Jewish house while people are occupied with matters that become necessary at their time and place. They may be about simple material things, a religious school, a religious agricultural operation, a kibbutz, classes for adolescents, appropriate sports that do not take place on Shabbat. These matters can be considered small, but they are important, just like the mezuza on our doorposts, even for a house full of sefarim.
There is also sometimes a very different mistake – people think there is no need for tzitzit of techeilet on a garment of techeilet. In other words, the techeilet of normal life and its beauty is enough from their perspective. Dealing with simple things while adding to them important content, convinces the heart that this is enough. In a life of work in Eretz Yisrael, which the Chatam Sofer (Sukka 36a) compares to wearing tefillin, where the mundane contains the sacred, one can be blinded by the sun. He can think that if we are all full of techeilet, then we do not also need tzitzit. And if there are tzitzit there, certainly what point would there be for some more techeilet? The value of and excitement about the techeilet of the garment detracts from the excitement of attaching tzitzit of techeilet.
These ideas are mistakes. The Torah says of Aharon: "He separated Aharon to sanctify him as holy of holies" (Divrei Hayamim I, 23:13). If a life of work in Eretz Yisrael is holy, then the values that in the Diaspora are holy, turn into holy of holies in Eretz Yisrael. If plowing in Eretz Yisrael is like donning tefillin, then donning tefillin – is donning tefillin! The relative distance between the values is not shortened; everything just moves further in the direction of sanctity in Eretz Yisrael. If people do not understand this, then they approach sanctity in a manner that destroys and neutralizes the sanctity. As it says in our parasha, "Whoever gets close [improperly] to the Sanctuary of Hashem shall die" (Bamidbar 17:28).
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
