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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Vayakhel
What is included in the principle of Torah from the Heaven, and how does it connect to other principles of the Torah? Realize that the nature of the Torah has great impact on how we learn it and fulfill it. If it is of divine origin, from the Creator, Who is not part of creation, and it is transcendental, we must come to the following conclusions:
A. We will not find a logical reason for every commandment of the Torah. Our most famous example is the laws of the Red Heifer. The existence of some such mitzvot is the logical outcome of receiving the Torah from a power that transcends mankind. In some ways, modern science has a similar outlook to the rules of the particles of atomic physics or the attempt to fathom the vast universe and all its galaxies. As the Rabbis said, "The goal of knowledge is to know that we do not know." Scientists have a similar concept called uncertainty.
B. Since Creation is under the dominion of time, moving only forward, we must live in recognition of this phenomenon. In contrast, in Tanach, which was Divinely given (each section in its own way), the order that is written need not be chronological, which is why we often use the rule that "there is no earlier and later in the Torah" (Pesachim 6b). The Exodus is also not presented in exact order. As we have discussed, the charge to Moshe in chapter 6 preceded that of chapters 3 & 4 (the burning bush). This should be remembered when telling the story on seder night.
C. When the Torah came down from Heaven to the physical world, it was figuratively "smashed into small pieces" and then recomposed through the work of the Men of the Great Assembly, who canonized Tanach. The prophet Yirmiyahu expresses it, "My Word is like fire, says, Hashem, and like a hammer that shatters a stone" (Yirmiyahu 23:29). When we study Torah, we need to locate all of the Torah’s "pieces" and unite them, to receive a clear picture. Note that the building of the Mishkan appears in five portions of Shemot, as well as in Vayikra and Bamidbar. If you study the topic in only one of the sections, you will get only a partial picture.
So too, the Exodus from Egypt, appears in four of the sections of the Torah – all but Bereishit. Even to that we need to add that which appears in the Prophets, such as Yoel, and in Tehillim. These complete our picture.
These ideas serve as one more manifestation of the importance of unity, which connects sections of the Nation, as the Torah sources need to be. We must gather elements that appear to be distant.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
