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This week’s look at the possibility of unity relates to Shimi ben Gera, another relative of Shaul ben Kish, from the descendants of Rachel.
A pasuk tells that as David was fleeing from his rebelling son Avshalom, Shimi ben Gera came out toward him (Shmuel II, 16:5). Yet, the latter’s descendant Mordechai is referred to as "ben Yair ben Shimi ben Kish" (Esther 2:5). Who was Shimi’s father?
The simple explanation is that genealogical lists do not enumerate every generation. In Shmuel, emphasis is placed on Shimi as a descendant of Gera, Binyamin’s son (see Bereishit 46:21). Megillat Esther connects Mordechai to Kish, Shaul’s father (see Megilla 12b, 13a).
Chazal had good things to say about Shimi – e.g., his name means that Hashem "listened to his prayer" (ibid.). Also, Rashi (Shmuel II, 16:10) claims that Shimi was the head of the Sanhedrin. This is along the lines of Gittin (59a) that assumes that Shimi surpassed Shlomo in Torah scholarship. In fact, he was apparently Shlomo’s teacher (Berachot 8a). Chazal also speak very highly of Shimi’s wife, claiming that Mordechai and Esther emerged from Shimi because she was a righteous woman who saved two righteous people from execution (Midrash Shmuel, 32:4).
The navi also grants Shimi a unique title: "The first of all the House of Yosef" (Shmuel II, 19:21). This accords Shimi a great standing and defines his political status. It indicates that he was the leader of the tribes of Ephraim, Menashe, and Binyamin. This title also resembles that of he who would be the king of what could be called, "The Kingdom of Yosef" – Yerovam ben N’vat, from the Tribe of Ephrayim (see Melachim I, 11:28).
Had we merited that David and Shimi would have joined forces, Shimi had the potential to do what was hoped from Yonatan, Avner, and Michal – open a gateway to a wondrous unity that brings Liberation closer. Tragically, Shimi took the opportunity of the outbreak of Avshalom’s rebellion to grievously offend David, throwing stones at him, calling him "man of bloodshed," and celebrating the upper hand that Avshalom appeared to have over David (see Shmuel II, 16:5-8).
David did not forgive Shimi and instructed Shlomo to kill him (Melachim I, 2:9). The gemara says that this was a mistake, and it opened up Shlomo to the sin of marrying Paroh’s daughter, when his teacher was no longer around (Berachot 8a). The result was severe. "At the time that Shlomo married Paroh’s daughter, Gavriel descended and planted a reed in the sea, and a sandbank formed upon it, and upon it was built the great city of Rome" (Shabbat 56b).
Thus, the destructions of the First and Second Temples are seen as the result of the lack of unity between King David and Shimi ben Gera, the foremost leader of the House of Yosef. Once again, we have learned the lesson of the supreme importance of unity.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
