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Beit Midrash
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We will use two Talmudic accounts to understand another national change, almost 2,000 years ago, at the time of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi and Rabbi Chiya (Hagadol) and his sons. R. Yehuda formed the Mishna, turning the Oral Law into a written law, which ensured the transmission of the Oral Law. This protected the world of scholarship from the effects of mass migration and periods of horrible persecution (e.g., Crusades, Inquisition, Holocaust, …) that could have destroyed the wholeness of the tradition. R. Chiya continued this effort by gathering important Tannaic teachings that did not make it into the Mishna and creating the complementary Tosefta. Reish Lakish was a great admirer of "R. Chiya and his sons," comparing R. Chiya’s contribution to the survival of Torah scholarship at perilous times to that of Ezra and Hillel (Sukka 20a).
Elsewhere (Bava Metzia 85a), we learn again of Reish Lakish, to whom Providence demonstrated he was no equal to R. Chiya. A heavenly voice told him that he was as erudite as R. Chiya but did not disseminate Torah to the degree that R. Chiya did. It goes on to describe a grass-roots approach to educating the masses, not just the intellectual/spiritual elite, that R. Chiya undertook. The gemara goes on to tell how Eliyahu Hanavi attributed incredible reverence in the World of the Souls to R. Chiya and to his sons, even seeing them as equivalent to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. In that way, they eclipsed the greatness of R. Chiya’s great colleagues, R. Yehuda Hanasi and Rabbi Chanina.
What was so special about R. Chiya’s approach is that they stressed connecting as many Jews as possible to Torah study on a consistent basis. Even if they would not become great scholars who could continue the greatness of R. Yehuda and R. Chanina, these simpler people would live their lives as complete Jews for whom the Torah is the center of their lives. They would not have to deal with the question of using the Torah as a "tool" – using it to justify neglecting the obligations of supporting their families or defending their nation. That level of connection to Torah is appropriate only for a tiny cadre who can reach the highest level of depth in Torah scholarship if given the opportunity. These great scholars, upon completing their rise to the desired level, go out to teach the Torah they learned and even defend Am Yisrael if the need arises. (In the soon-to-be-published Tzofnat Shmuel we will deal with other elements of the disagreement between R. Yehuda Hanasi and R. Chiya and his sons.)
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.