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Beit Midrash
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- Moreshet Shaul
The Oral Law’s main element is that Torah scholars were given the authority not only to pass on what they received from their teachers, but also to arrive at new conclusions. These ideas become part of the corpus of Torah, to the extent that even opinions like which we do not rule are not erased, as they contain elements of Torah. Undoubtedly, every deliberation and decision of a scholar is impacted by his essence, personality, and approach to things. While the Torah forms one’s personality and imprints his logic and characteristics, this is only in regard to providing form and direction; it does not create the characteristics. Therefore, Hillel and Shamai had different fundamental styles, despite both learning Torah, and this played a role in the differences in rulings by the two academies they led.
The authority the Rabbis received to confer Torah status on their ideas is the great novelty that comes from the Oral Law. This authority is not very limited and does not have an end point. It is alive, renewing, and continual. For this reason, it was not meant to be written down, as writing gives it rigidity and finality.
Moreshet Shaul (45)
Various Rabbis
7 - Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part III
8 - Moreshet Shaul: Responsible Innovation in the Oral Law
9 - Moreshet Shaul: Responsible Innovation in the Oral Law To Learn and to Be Happy
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Because of the Oral Law’s double characteristic, Judaism has continued creating the corpus of Torah even after the Oral Law, as expressed in the Mishna and Talmud, was largely committed to writing. The wellspring continues to expand. New approaches to analysis and understanding, new insights and in-depth study, are added in every generation. Questions arising in practical life that could not have been imagined in previous generations raise new challenges for leading rabbinic experts. The rulings made on these enable the nation to continue the Torah’s path of life in a changing reality. Occasionally, Judaism encounters challenges raised by students who did not learn sufficiently, who break the continuity of Halacha and claim they must change the Torah to make it relevant for the demands of the time. However, eventually we overcome the crisis, and the nation remains within the accepted channel.
We are in such conflicts these days, for example, in America, between those faithful to Judaism and different "innovators" – the Reform and Conservative. Occasionally, they assemble their "rabbis" to deal with issues, and they imagine they solve them with arbitrary decisions, unrelated to existing principles of Halacha. In that way, they permitted driving a car to synagogues on Shabbat, while limiting travel for pleasure. They permitted wine improperly touched by non-Jews if needed for Kiddush and Havdala. Any reasonable person realizes that these "improvements" have no basis in Halacha and are just destructive rulings, whose point is to accept what is happening instead of overcoming difficulties. How comical and illogical it is to permit these things on a limited basis, which is done just to quiet their conscience and make it easier to destroy everything. This is not the way of the Oral Law, which they only pretend to follow.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part III
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Addresses to Students at Kfar Haroeh (1942, 1944)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 238
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Spiritual Self-Improvement – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 405-7 (from the 1930s)
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: What Connects Us as a Nation – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 704
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
