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Davka because our childern in the IDF are so careful (statistically more than any other army in the world, just Google: IDF minimize civilian casualties) not to attack civilians and our army camp is truly holy, it is especially aggravating and offensive that some American Jews (most of who don't even live in Israel), who never served a day in their lives in an army base, and surely have never been endangered through the Gazan's use of their own children & hospitals as human shields, dare to condemn our kids. With 0 Israeli political experience, it's no less than chutzpah to preach mussar to our elected and experienced government as to how is the best way to pressure our enemies to free our kidnapped. Golda Meir, a lioness in orthopedic shoes, ended the Yom Kippur War WITHIN DAYS by withholding food and water from the surrounded Egyptian Third Army. To consume Hamas propaganda as fact, like the Pope and UN without even verifying the facts and without knowing what pressures the Hamas, and without first PRAISING the MORALITY of Israel and the IDF is not "keeping sanctity in the Jewish army camp", but rather profaning it FALSELY in front of Israel's enemies in Europe, Australian, Canada etc. at time of war.
I am proud to be one of the half million "settlers" whom Rabbi Blau offends through his indecent generalizations, where as opposed to him and his American cohorts, I can personally testify that 99% of us settlers are not "exploding violence" towards Arabs, and have never even once done so (he can check with his own children). If even 1,000 (by far an overstatement according to the police) of the 530,000 settlers have done violence, it doesn't even reach 1% of the settlers, and not even a half or a quarter of 1%! It would be much more statistically accurate to generalize that R. Blau's students in Yeshiva university are violent because some individual graduates there have beaten their wives or children! Similarly to quote the extremist Ben-Gvir as an average settler, is like citing R. Meir Kahane, a YU high school colleague of R. Blau, as a mainstream representative of Yeshiva University.
Instead of unity among Jews, and collecting money for children in Sderot, R. Blau has inadvertently united with CNN, BBC, Al Jazeerah and the Gazans. Instead of blaming Hamas for the suffering in Gaza, he blames Israel.
May I suggest that these rabbis have the moral humility to clarify their words on these accounts, and fix the sin of the meraglim who spoke bad about Eretz Yisrael (the Meshech Chochma, P. B'Shalach, stresses that Hashem even forgave the sin of the Golden Calf, but not the sin of the spies, even though some of their words were true!). If they like writing, these rabbis should at least publish a similar letter, already today, PRAISING the morality of Israel & the IDF. If the NY Times quoted and applauded him, that's a sign that they celebrate the anti-Israel sentiment Rav Blau raises, and he can try correcting it through complimenting Israel regarding true moral facts. It's not difficult, especially during Elul, to say "I was wrong" for tarnishing innocent & righteous people of Israel. We have enough enemies, and better to publicize the genuine holiness of the IDF camps where G-d says He truly "walks", as well as the altruistic kidney donation among "settlers" (by far the highest in the world! Google: Altruistic Kidney Religious Zionists Settlers) instead of providing our enemies with support during war, especially when false or exaggerated! Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
Additional Lessons Answering Accusations of Israeli-Occupation
& Why the Moral Mitzvot are Geared Only to Jews- Not Gentiles?
The Giving of the Torah When Should We Use Facts, Logic or Kabbala in Learning Torah?
Ein Aya Shabbat 4 7
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.
