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Beit Midrash
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Shlomo depended heavily on the people of Tzor (Tyre) to make an edifice on the level he envisioned. The navi tells us that Hashem gave wisdom to Shlomo and he made a treaty with Chiram of Tzor (Melachim I, 5:26). As a result, Shlomo received help in the following areas:
1. Shlomo received natural commodities - the cedars of Lebanon (ibid.:20).
2. He hired workers from Tzor to cut down the trees in the most professional manner and to transport them by sea to Eretz Yisrael.
3. He enlisted artisans to work with the wood, stones, and precious metals (Divrei Hayamim II, 2:6).
Who was this Chiram, and where did his artistic style come from? The navi mentions Chiram twice. In Melachim I, 7: 13-14, he is described as: the son of a widow; from Naftali; his father was from Tzor; he was filled with knowledge and wisdom to do all sorts of work. Divrei Hayamim II, 2:13 describes him as: the son of a woman from Dan and a man from Tzor; one who knew how to deal with metals and fabrics. What does it mean that Chiram’s father was from Tzor?
Putting the two p’sukim together, it appears that Chiram’s mother was from the tribe of Dan and his father was from the Tribe of Naftali. If so, his father’s association with Tzor is only geographical, i.e., he had lived there. However, it is likely that this is not a technical point but a statement that Chiram’s teachers and mentors were of the Tzorian school of craftsmanship. The implications of this approach are major because Shlomo added elements to the complex of the Beit Hamikdash that Hashem had not commanded in the building of the Mishkan (including the washing basin’s base and the yam shel Shlomo. The special decorations on the doors and walls also do not appear to have been governed by specific halachot (see Melachim I, 6: 18, 29, 32).
What, then, do we make of the influence of Chiram’s teachers? One can look at the matter positively and say that Chiram "converted" the Tzorian approach to craftsmanship for the purpose of glorifying the Jewish Temple. This would be an effective way of fulfilling the mandate, "this is is my G-d, and I will adorn him." Some, including the Seforno, saw in the incorporatrion of foreign style into the Beit Hamikdash a serious flaw. He says that this is the reason behind the need to frequently repair the Temple and eventually was a factor in its destruction at the hands of our enemies.
Apparently this issue was never resolved definitively. Let us hope that the time to apply the lessons of this issue in the building of a new Beit Hamikdash will soon arise.
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.
