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Our segment of society (the religious settlement movement) also threw off the yoke of "extra manners." Members of the moshavim stress the fact that they do not wear ties; sleeves are rolled up and collars are thrown to wherever they end up, as a sign of independent simplicity. There is also simplicity in relations between people – titles of honor are discarded and are replaced by the title chaver – friend/colleague (= co-member of the cooperative). No Mr. and no Reb, just chaver. There is a disagreement how to relate to the rabbi. Some want to view him as just another member of the community; some want to see him as above this framework.
These simple and straightforward relationships pulled along a similar relationship between our children and their teachers and parents. We are proud that we have created such friendly relationships between a son and his father, and a mother and her daughter. A daughter asks her mother’s advice, and the mother tells her daughter her secrets.
In practice, they indeed do uproot the feeling of embarrassment toward parents and adults, but it is unclear if this uprooting will bring significant fruits. Respect for parents was removed, but relations of a friend to a friend were not quite acquired. The young look at the previous generation the way members of the previous generation look at themselves – a human being who already lived most of his life and received most of what he is going to get out of life, and therefore one who should vacate his place for the next generation. It is the young who are coming to conquer, and the older person is unable to understand even if he tries, so the older should just do what the younger want. This desire, the lack of restraint, the lack of a guiding force – who knows where it is liable to lead?
With all of the simplified relations between people, without any extra flourishes, it also develops naturally that one relates as equals to those who he should be respecting. An example is speaking in the second person, not only when the "distance" between them is small, but even when it is large. It behooves us to stress that speaking in the third person existed in the times of our forefathers. Eisav used it ("my father shall get up" (Bereishit 27:31). In contrast, Yaakov said "get up" (ibid. 19) in the second person, but he used the "soft" language of "na" along with the verb. This shows the heartfelt feeling and the relationship of respect for his father.
Within the family and the community, we find a distinction of different levels of obligation regarding giving respect within the framework of the family and the community. Respect for one’s parents, which goes together with reverence for one’s parents and all that is included in these concepts, sets the mold of the structure of the Jewish family. There are also mutual obligations of respect for a wife toward her husband and a husband toward his wife (see P’sikta Bamidbar, Korach 114). All of these help form the infrastructure of the Jewish home. We are also obligated to show honor to scholars and to the elderly. We also find the idea of showing honor to elderly non-Jews who experienced many things in their lifetime (see Kiddushin 33a). We are even obligated to show honor to friends: "The honor of your friend should be as dear to you as your own" (Avot 2:10).
We continue next time.
Moreshet Shaul (48)
Various Rabbis
33 - Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part I
34 - Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part II
35 - Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part III
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Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Addresses to Students at Kfar Haroeh (1942, 1944)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 238
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Introduction to Midrash Rabba – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 121
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
