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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Ki Tisa
Let us understand the background. The Megilla opens with an account of Achashveirosh, who ruled 127 provinces, from Hodu to Kush." Hodu is in Asia and Kush in Africa, and they mark the boundaries of the biblical world. Implicitly, he claims the exclusive title of the king of kings. There is no room for Hashem in his perception.
Such an attitude in the world causes Hashem to react with hester panim (hiding the Divine Presence (Shechina)). It is therefore unsurprising that His Name does not appear explicitly in the Megilla, as Hashem is concealed behind the recurring term "the king."
The Shechina went with Am Yisrael into exile from Eretz Yisrael (Megilla 29a). At the time of the Persian Empire’s broad rule, there seemed to be no realistic prospect that Israel would return to the Beit Hamikdash, the home of the Shechina. Yirmiyahu had foretold that the nation would return after 70 years, and the Mikdash would be rebuilt. According to Chazal, once those years passed, Achashveirosh’s feast, at which the vessels of the Mikdash were deliberately used, constituted giving up hope for redemption and the ideal of "if they merit, the Shechina would be with and above them."
Chazal taught that a man and woman who build a home in Israel merit that the Shechina will dwell among them (Sotah 17a), reminiscent of the command to build the Mishkan "so I shall dwell among them" (Shemot 25:8). The command concludes with a double declaration: "I shall dwell in the midst of Bnei Yisrael … to dwell among them, I am Hashem" (Shemot 29:45-46). The indwelling of the Shechina is a result of families that build their homes in sanctity and purity, and this finds public expression in the Mishkan/Mikdash.
Tragically, between the command to build the Mishkan and its construction, the sin of the Golden Calf occurred. The Calf symbolizes life centered on materialism and degradation (see Shemot 32:18). Life in Achashveirosh’s palace represents a prolonged Golden Calf lifestyle. The beginning of the Megilla presents a world founded on promiscuity, drunken feasting, and a royal command that a wife appear publicly in a manner intended to shock and humiliate. Anyone who aspires to live in a world shaped by "How good are your tents, Ya‘akov …!" (Bamidbar 24:5) cannot accept such conduct. The degrading treatment of women in Iran (i.e., ancient Persia) shows that, fundamentally, things have not changed over the course of millennia.
If the Megilla is a story of redemption and of renewed possibility to experience the Shechina, then R. Yehuda, R. Yossi, and R. Shimon do not require to read the first chapter!
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.
