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Beit Midrash
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- Moreshet Shaul
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 (48)
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: What Connects Us as a Nation – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 704
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Eretz Yisrael in Halacha and in Sanctity – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 137
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part IV
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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D'varim EXCUSES ARE RUNNING OUT
p. Dvarim, Shabbat Chazon, Tisha b'Av
p. Dvarim, Shabbat Chazon, Tisha b'Av
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.
