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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sukkot
- The Essence of Sukkot
Rav Kook points out (Orot HaTeshuva 6, 7) that just as most of the tree is roots, trunk, branches and leaves, despite the fact that the goal of an apple tree is her fruit, similarly most of life is preparations (e.g. eating, dress, work, cooking, raising children), and often one doesn't even achieve his goal. Does that mean that he wasted his life?! The basic question is, if most of life is "tree" (= a 'means' to achieve a goal), and I want to have meaning in life, I have no choice but to find a way to have "taste" in the tree, not just in the fruit. This was the original plan in Eden (where Hashem commanded "let there be fruit trees that produce fruit", but the earth didn't listen and just grew "trees that produce fruit", Yalkut Shimoni Breishit 1), and is meant to be the ideal lifestyle, as expressed in the Etrog where the tree tastes like her fruit (the last remnant of the ideal world, Sukkah 35a). The Vilna Gaon says that living in Eretz Yisrael is like living one's entire life in a Sukkah (Kol HaTor, p. 470), where even the secular/mundane/"tree" is not just preparation and 'means', but also has meaning/taste/holiness, and all that you do is a mitzva!
Usually eating, walking, work, speaking etc. are just a 'means' to achieve some higher goal in life, but in the sukkah, whatever you do there is a mitzva. Similarly in Eretz Yisrael, there is spiritual value in producing and eating her holy fruit (Chatam Sofer, Suka 35); in walking 4 steps (Mishna Brura 248, 28); in speaking her Holy Language of Hebrew (Sifre, Dvarim 11,19), and even serving in her army is a Milchemet Mitzva (Rambam hil. Milachim 5, 1).
Rav Kook (Ma'amarei HaReiya, p. 235) points out that Yom Kippur, when we pretend and act like angels and distance ourselves from physical pleasure, is extreme "shock treatment" for the spiritually sick, who temporarily need bitter medicine in order to return to health. But the final mitzvah of Yom Kippur is to go out and build a sukkah, return to living a life of kedusha. Similarly, the Mesilat Yesharim (ch. 26) explains that Tahara (refraining from physical pleasure to the bare minimum), is a lower level than Kedusha (revealing Godliness in the physical world). Accordingly, Rav Kook explains why we have over 50 Shabbatot and many Yom Tovs over the year, and only one Yom Kippur. This is the Living Torah of Eretz Yisrael which embodies Kedusha (ibid, p. 179), as opposed to the Torah of Chutz laAretz which makes do with Tahara. Accordingly we understand why the Talmud Yerushalmi written in Eretz Yisrael, considers the "preparation" for a mitzvah (like writing a mezuza, building a sukkah or tying tzitzit) as an additional mitzvah (even deserving its own bracha: e.g. "לעשות סוכה"), as opposed to the Talmud Bavli (Tosafot, M'nachot 42b) written in Chutz laAretz, which does not consider the preparation a mitzvah.
Rav Kook similarly explains why the Simchat Beit HaSho'eva (literally: "the party of the water-drawing") is not called "Simchat Nisuch HaMayim" (the party of the pouring of the water), even though the mitzva was to pour the water on the alter on Sukkot, and the "drawing" of the water was just a "PREPARATION". Similarly, the Torah mentions the preparation of building a sukka ("תעשה") and acquiring the 4 species (""ולקחתם), where in contrast, it doesn't say "you shall bake matzot".
For this holiday teaches that the preparations/tree are also important, not just the fruit/goal. This is all fitting for Chag HaAsif, where we worked an entire agricultural year, plowing, planting, irrigating, fertilizing, pruning etc. in preparation for gathering the fruit, the produce. Sukkot teaches us that even if chalila there was a drought and not that much fruit, we did not waste a year, for in Eretz Yisrael, there is "taste/meaning in the tree (e.g. the work), just as in the fruit!" Accordingly, the Abravanel (Dvarim 16) says that just as Pesach celebrates Am Yisrael, and Shavu'ot- Torat Yisrael, Sukkot represents a microcosm of Eretz Yisrael! (see attached source sheet) Chag Same'ach and we should hear Besorot Tovot from all Yisrael!! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
Ein Aya Complete G-dliness Doesn't Weaken But Enhances Natural Drives
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 50
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.
