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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 (48)
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.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Members of the Nation Who Are in The Fields
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 95 (from 1942)
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part III
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Spiritual Self-Improvement – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 405-7 (from the 1930s
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.
