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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
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Tannaim debate when this arvut obtained full force (see Sanhedrin 43b). R. Yehuda maintains that national liability for hidden sins did not begin until Bnei Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael. R. Nechemia asserts that Bnei Yisrael were not liable to punishment for even revealed sins before crossing the Jordan. This phemonenon heightens the impact of Eretz Yisrael from both a national and a spiritual perspective.
The covenantal (brit) element of Sinai is repeated at Mt. Grizim and Mt. Eval, as Moshe commanded Yehoshua. The nation accepted the blessings and curses with an affimation of "Amen" (see Devarim 27, Sota 32a), and the dynamic of the involvement of the various tribes, and the arvut engendered in it, are major. The gemara (ibid. 37a-b) continues to show the vastness of the covenant – encompassing the individual and the collective, the elements of learning the mitzva’s details, teaching them, and the dedication to and performance of the mitzvot. Including the brit at Sinai and before entering the Land, every mitzva of the Torah was confirmed with 48 britot of all six-hundred-thousand plus Jews. This comes to tens of millions of britot upon which we are all arevim.
Even if we do not adopt the literal element of the numerical magnitude of the mutual responsibility, the responsibility toward the spirituality of our brethren, the House of Israel, is uniquely powerful. Tragically, the fire of dispute and fragmentation is spreading these days like a wildfire, and it is in complete contrast to what, as we have seen, is our basic national responsibility.
This time of the year, we are noting our entering the Land, which occurred soon before Pesach (10 Nisan – Yehoshua 4:19), in addition to the freedom from enslavement, physical and spiritual, on Pesach. Soon thereafter, we commemorate the giving of the Torah. In our generation, new important commerations arose – remembrances for the victims of the Holocaust and victims of the struggle for the creation and upholding of our national independence in the State of Israel. This is a great backdrop to remember our obligation of mutual responsibility. This is a reason to increase love of our nation and our fellow Jews, and to try to speak positively about all of them, even if we do not agree with the actions and philosophies of some. If we focus on our stake in the welfare of every brother and sister, we can reach understandings with 90% of the population on the matters that challenge our unity. This is the way to proceed to make us fit for the coming of Mashiach.
We conclude with a homiletic point – arvut is hinted at already in Creation, with the words "It was erev (evening) and it was morning, day one" (Bereishit 1:5). Let us say – if we will each be an arev, we will see the dawning of the long-awaited day of redemption, the day of Oneness, when Hashem will be One and His Name will be One (Zecharia 14:9). Then we will see victory, when Hashem judges the mountain of Eisav and restores His full Kingdom (Ovadia 1:21).
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.