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Beit Midrash
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If we see an unusually large flame, in a place where we are used to a normal, stable flame, we should assume that it is not good, but that it is a sign of catastrophe. There must have been an eruption – perhaps a storehouse of petrol caught fire. The great flame is a sign that in a relatively short time, there will be nothing left.
It is easy to waste resources that one did not toil to attain. It is pleasant to appear to be generous, on the account of others, but such a situation cannot last for long. A treasure house, even the richest one, must dwindle if there is no flow of new resources to replenish it and provide sustenance. There is a reason, of course, that pioneer spirit appears headed toward disappearing from the world. There is a reason that the writer who writes about a pioneer has to go back to heroes of the past, as we are running out of such people – the store house is diminishing.
The "worship" of the land and of physical work stems from the same pure simplicity with which the worshipper’s father would be excited when he prayed, "Because of our sins we were exiled from our Land." Ignoring one’s personal welfare and finding one’s essence in nullifying himself and embracing the life of the community occur because one of his forebears once left his wife, children, and possessions to travel to his spiritual mentor to "collect crumbs of clinging to Hashem." When one becomes ecstatic when dancing the Hora to the point of forgetting his senses, this stems from the forebear’s excitement when dancing at Kiddush Levana, from the joy of Simchat Torah, and from the delight in the rest-day of Shabbat. The modern contentment with justice and a life of honesty is an echo of the forebear’s prayers for a better world.
As long as the sublime feeling is still bubbling somewhere in the depths of the soul, such as when one remembers a Seder night with his father, or his grandfather’s crying during Tikkun Chatzot (prayer for the rebuilding of the Temple), or the holy atmosphere during the High Holy Days, or the joy of satisfaction on Sukkot, he can and will find excitement in that which replaces these memories in his present life. He "builds his gods" in the likeness of the service of Hashem that he lost. However, slowly, the memories fade. The purposeless festivities and dancing cannot create within him new strength. The chicken coup cannot take the place of the Temple and the reins of the plough cannot take the place of the straps of tefillin. The illusion must by force evaporate. If it will not occur to the first-generation pioneer, it will happen to his son. The son is born without knowledge, never experienced a Seder night, never got up for Selichot, and never trembled in anticipation of shofar blowing. He cannot reach back and have the ability to make new gods, because he does not feel a need for them, for he did not lose a connection to Hashem.
There is great disappointment among the previous generation’s intellectuals, as they are shocked by the emptiness of the new generation. A generation has arisen that does not find interest in a simple reading book. To them, football is as important as morning and evening prayers; it is a generation without yearnings, desire, or aspirations. They should just see the fruit of their leaving the Book of Books, which they disgraced in their interest in trying to build everything from anew, based on their foundations.
Moreshet Shaul (46)
Various Rabbis
14 - Moreshet Shaul: Inability to Pass on Abandoned Tradition – part I
15 - Moreshet Shaul: Inability to Pass on Abandoned Tradition – part II
16 - Moreshet Shaul: Members of the Nation Who Are in The Fields
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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: The Ethics of the Torah
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 558
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
