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Beit Midrash
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- Moreshet Shaul
The sin of the Tree of Knowledge needs explanation. It seems that one might think that he can set for himself, according to his own judgment, what is good and what is bad, based on intellect. This is false because the intellect can only use and apply previous precedents.
Moreshet Shaul (48)
Various Rabbis
1 - Moreshet Shaul: Thoughts on the Blessing on Torah
2 - Moreshet Shaul: Rebirth Through Torah
3 - Moreshet Shaul: Recognize Your Place
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The blessing we make on Torah study is: "… Who chose us … and gave us His Torah." In the blessing before Kri’at Shema, we add and request: "Our father, the merciful father … put wisdom in our hearts, to understand and be enlightened." This impassioned prayer is specifically that which can serve as the blessing for Torah, as this is what is required for there to be Torah.
At the end of the morning prayers, we add: "He shall open our hearts to His Torah, and He shall place in our hearts love and fear of Him." If the heart is not opened by the Torah, it is not possible to reach any significant level of love and fear, because the basic principle is that there is a need for Torah. In other words, the divine principle of free will does not allow one [after doing the basics of service of Hashem] to follow that which he desires to do.
On the contrary, why was the Torah given to Israel? It is because they are brazen (Beitza 25a). In other words, if they were not so, then their personal traits would have turned out to be destructive. That is why the fact that Bnei Yisrael did not make the blessing on the Torah caused the destruction [of the Second Temple] (Bava Metzia 85b).
"… Who chose us … and gave us His Torah." When an important person turns to me, I feel satisfaction if I can fulfill his request. This satisfaction is so much more evident when the Creator of the World Himself turns to us with requests, and not privately but with thundering sound and powerful flashes. What an honor it was! Imagine the contentment we have if we can fulfill His request.
"… and He planted the eternal life in our midst" – We see so clearly, from the earliest of historical times, that we are an eternal nation who have that which gives us eternal life – the Torah. This idea is brought home by Rabbi Akiva’s parable of the fish (Berachot 61b). A fox tried to convince a fish to come on to land to protect himself from the fisherman, and the fish responded and that if in the place it is capable of living, it is in danger, imagine what would be in the place where it is incapable of living. This is what Rabbi Akiva did with his life. He was killed by the Romans for teaching Torah, and through his death bequeathed us life.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Fortunate is the King Who Is Thus Praised in His House
Based on Aroch Siach, Yamim Noraim p. 87
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Addresses to Students at Kfar Haroeh (1942, 1944)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 238
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.
