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Beit Midrash
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I will share an important story about unity that involves distinguished Torah scholars from several generations ago. The story is connected to the pasuk from the parasha that is this piece’s title.
Two brilliant Torah scholars lived in Lublin more than 200 years ago. They came from different schools of thought, and their followers consistently felt tension between them. The older of the two was the "Chozeh of Lublin" (Rav Yaakov Horowitz, 1745-1815), a student of Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk and a prominent Chassidic leader. He received his nickname because of his followers’ claim that he could see from one end of the world to the other and/or into people’s thoughts. The other, Rabbi Azriel Horowitz (b. 1757) followed the approach of the Vilna Gaon, and was the rabbi of the official community of Lublin (the Chassidim formed a separate community). He was nicknamed the "Iron Head" because of his brilliance.
Rabbi Avraham Levi, the rabbi of a neighboring town, would daven vatikin (early, preferable time for Shacharit) in his town and then travel to Lublin to be a study partner of the Iron Head, returning to his town before sunset. One Friday, heavy snow prevented his return for Shabbat. He was adamant about davening vatikin on Shabbat, but a townsperson told him that the only such minyan was at the rival Chozeh’s shul; it would be "inappropriate" for a non-Chassid to daven there. Rav Levi went anyway, and when he entered, the Chozeh told his gabbai to give him the sixth aliya, which Chassidim reserve for their Rebbe. In response to the gabbai’s protest, the Chozeh explained that the fifth aliya ends with "kings will descend from you" (Bereishit 35:11) and that the gabbai would see those "kings." Years later, the Chozeh’s gabbai moved to Eretz Yisrael.
All of Rabbi Avraham’s five sons served in the rabbinate in the Lublin region. Something happened in the family that prompted three of them to move to Eretz Yisrael and strengthen its Jewish community, especially in Yerushalayim. The community was very happy about their arrival, and the Chozeh’s gabbai understood that these were the kings the Chozeh had seen coming from Rabbi Avraham (great rabbis are compared to kings – Gittin 62a).
The oldest of the Levi sons, Rabbi Yaakov, was a head of the city’s rabbinical court, founded the Kollel Polin, and was one of the founders and leaders of Meah Shearim. (Chief Rabbi Avraham Shapira was a descendant of his, as am I). Rabbi Asher Levi replaced him on the rabbinical court after his death. Rabbi Nachum Levi is the antecedent of the distinguished Baharan family.
The lesson of this story is that when warm connections arise between people of different approaches and philosophies, good things can happen. The aliya of these three brothers turned them into "kings," as men who built the Land spiritually and physically. The Chozeh’s beracha, along with the merits of the Mitnaged study partner of the Iron Head, brought together by a joint tefilla, brought benefit to all of Am Yisrael.
Let us pray for peace between us. May we all pull together in national responsibility with sensitivity for the needs of each element of society.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
