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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body: [The gemara (Avoda Zara 17a) that learns from Mishlei 2:19 that whoever embraces heretical ideas will not be able to "return" disturbed Rav Milstein.] [I am optimistic because] after so much time that that the Torah’s sanctity has sweetened the "air of the world," the "shell’s" power is weakened so that it can no longer prevent those who strayed into heresy to return. The reason for this is one of the loftiest ideas, with sources in the holy secrets of the Torah, to which I will hint in brief.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
235 - Good Work, Regrettable Language – #330
236 - Worse on the Outside, Better on the Inside – #332
237 - Asking Restraint from Insulted New Yishuv – #334
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When we were far from the "liberation," the shell could be strengthened by bad beliefs, such as idolatry and witchcraft. Heresy is a bad belief, the worst part of idolatry. When it "swallows" a spirit, it surrounds it with traps and sucks out all of the soul’s spiritual lifeblood. This resembles a spider holding on to the walls with its hands (see Mishlei 30:28). However, as liberation approaches, the shell cannot create bad beliefs; rather, it weakens the light of belief in weak hearts. While those trapped in this state view it as heresy and believe they are trapped in an inescapable net, they are actually only missing understanding and the light of intellect and emotion. So, as soon as they are shown the light of Hashem’s path, based on the ways of good intellect and emotions, the light impact them so that they will return to proper behavior. These are the ones who return from sin within Yaakov, upon whom the Liberator will come (see Yeshayahu 59:20).
We should be certain about Hashem’s kindness. He remembers the kindness of our forefathers to bring liberation to their descendants and [help] all of our children, even those who appear lost, become learned in Hashem’s ways. The pasuk says: "You will remember me at a distance, and the children will have life and return" (Zecharia 10:9). This is because their bad side is only external, and their inner soul is all good and holy. Therefore, they are inspired to some thoughts of rectitude and justice, although they wander onto wrong paths. Many of them cling to the nation and are proud of being Jews, without knowing why this is. Although they imitate other nations to whom they feel kinship, still the root of Eisav is wildness and bitterness. It is the source of evil, bloodshed, and destruction. The root of Israel is holy and good, ready for rectitude and justice, as Hashem intended for the world.
This is the secret behind "a poor person riding on a donkey" (Zecharia 9:9), which the Tikkunei Zohar says applies to the generation that precedes the Mashiach, which is "good on the inside and bad on the outside." This is the secret behind "it all turned white, it is pure" (Vayikra 13:13). Although a donkey has more signs of a non-kosher animal than non-kosher animals that have one sign of kashrut, internally it has sanctity, as it has the holiness of a firstborn, albeit very hidden sanctity that is revealed through the redemption process.
These things cannot be fully explained except orally at the correct time for those who "sit before Hashem."
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael – part II
#229 Date and Place: 13 Tishrei 5670 (1909), Yafo
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale That Turned Out Not Happening – part II
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Igrot Hare’aya Semi-solicited Advice to Calm Down Petach Tikva
#227 Date and Place: 8 Tishrei 5669, Yafo
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part III
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Alternatives to Gymnasium and Grafted Etrogim – #286
Date and Place: 18 Adar II, 5670 (1910), Yafo
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.
