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Beit Midrash
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- Parashat Hashavua
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Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are known as the "The Fearful Days," but the Rabbis also define them as days of light and salvation. They say "‘My light’ (Tehillim 27:1) refers to Rosh Hashana; ‘and my salvation" (ibid.) refers to Yom Kippur" (Vayikra Rabba 21:4).
Certainly, the days are fearful. When one knows he is standing, face-to-face, before the Creator of the world, and that there is nothing forgotten before His throne of glory and nothing is concealed from His "eyes," he naturally is seized by panic. One can explain his actions with 150 excuses, but he knows this will not work before He who knows man’s thoughts. There are even times when a person may succeed in fooling himself and quiet his conscience with various excuses. There are times he realizes he did something wrong, but he tries to make himself forget it. He may argue to himself – in the final analysis, that which happened is over; why should we dig it up and deal with outdated episodes? However, a person is required to be accountable for all of his actions. It is as if that which relates to the past is not in the past but the present. Actions are brought back to stand before him as if they are occurring now. A bad action is like an accusatory angel, which calls out: "Why would you do such a thing? Woe unto us because of the day of judgment! Woe unto us because of the day of rebuke!"
However, along with the feeling of fear, there is an awakening of regret, which is the "mother of repentance." While it is impossible to ignore the past, it is very possible to remedy what went wrong in the past. Every evil act can be viewed as a matter of darkness. It clouds your thoughts and overpowers your senses. It even instills a feeling of helplessness, making you feel that it is so strong that you are compelled to follow its dictates. You become like a robot without a will of your own. Actions are dictated to you, and you are not the master of your own decisions.
Suddenly, a ray of light bursts into the dark recesses of the spirit. At first, you try to avoid it and more efficiently keep yourself in the darkness. However, when you do not succeed and the light keeps on flowing in and penetrates deeply, then instead of avoiding it, there is a moment of recuperation and recognition that all we require is to align our actions with that which is appropriate.
It is good that it is impossible for us to ignore our mistakes. Fortunately, there is an "eye that sees" and observes us and a "hand" that guides us and assists us to shake off the dirt and the unseemly. If an act of evil is darkness, at least we know that the one day, Yom Kippur, comes to replace the darkness with light and make everything one unit. This is the "one day" to which the Rabbis referred.
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.
