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Beit Midrash
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A. Crying out & praying to G-d is always good, especially when many of His people are inconvenienced or frightened. But we dealt here with how NOT to be scared, not just as a strategic beneficial mindset, but also because it's really TRUE!
As we wrote, undoubtedly there were pessimists and Kvetches as G-d delivered us from Egypt, but they were proven totally wrong. Moreover, in the Haggada's machloket (Brachot 1, 5), the halachic conclusion is like Ben Zoma, that we must mention G-d's taking us out of Egypt every night (not just in the day), but NOT in Y'mot HaMashiach (Rambam Kr.Sh. 1, 3; Mishna Brura 67, 3-4), for we can ALREADY see that the final redemption PALES & OVERSHADOWS the Exodus from Mitzra'im.
Without getting into the discussion of who and when can we make that modification in our daily, weekly and yearly calendar, that Yom HaAtzma'ut, Yom Yerushalayim and future celebrations will REPLACE Yitzia't Mitzra'im, objectively TODAY'S REDEMPTION is ALREADY much greater on 6 accounts (doubling the list of R. Uri Cherki):
1. It's been 2,000 years of hell, not just 210.
2-3. The salvation follows an unprecedented systemic & sadistic murder of 6,000,000 Jews, not just slavery (qualitative) of about 2,000,000 (quantitative).
4. Today's redemption is from 102 different countries in 6 vastly dispersed continents, not just from Egypt.
5. This century's redemption is through natural and not super-natural means, showing that G-d totally controls and solves even the most complicated complex problems over long periods of time, unlike the quick 'zapping' in Egypt (which BTW was followed by many difficulties and kvetchings during 40 years in the desert…). In one of his classic letters Rav Kook writes to Rav Charlap (Igrot HaReiya 753), "Woe, we should not leave NATURE in her lowly status, without connecting her with the holy bond of eternal light… The fact that the redemption of Israel is approaching "bit by bit" (gradually & naturally, as we were taught, Yerushalmi Brachot 1, 1) is NOT WEAKNESS, but rather Gevura shebaGevurot (the ultimate in greatness of G-d). Not b'dieved but for us, it's l'chatchila!
6. This redemption is final, and there won't be another exile (just Google: Another Exile Ari Shvat), while boy, have there been a lot of exiles since Egypt!
In addition, we should stop arguing about whether the glass is half-full or half-empty and be grateful that we HAVE A GLASS at all. Moreover, the glass is always 100% full: half with water, and half with air, because everything has value, even the aspects that seem "empty" or invisible, like peace or especially educational lessons.
"The optimist sees the glass as half-full. The pessimist sees the glass as half-empty. The engineer sees a glass that is twice as large as it needs to be." Let's start viewing our situations from a new, G-dly & historical perspective.
Statistically, the missiles are getting scarcer, an average of 10-15 a day. From the beginning of the Lion's Roar operation, 400 missiles have been fired towards Israel, and the IDF has successfully intercepted over 92%. Nevertheless, security has constantly stressed that our world-leading advanced defense system is not air-tight, so civilians MUST go to shelters. MOST of those killed or wounded were those who didn't follow the security directives, because of psychological, "religious" or sociological excuses. The Rambam, writing as world-leading rabbi, philosopher and doctor COMBINED, writes (Guide for the Perplexed 3, 12) that most of the problems and pain in the world we bring upon ourselves (I've heard some expressly say, "we're not "makpid" on shelters").
As I return home once again from my shelter (together with millions of other Israelis), in wake of the aforementioned ideas, I strongly suggest reading last week's post once-again, to be that much more thankful to Hashem & His Jewish State & IDF. If shelters & army are the price we must pay to rid ourselves from those who wish to nuke us, let's not kvetch but objectively rejoice upon where we are in Jewish history.
Who knows, perhaps chalila their own wounded may lessen the derision in Bnei Brak towards human efforts on behalf of Jewish security to undergo some important rethinking, which will also be a significant Teshuva & return to the original Torah (Rambam) approach, obligating shelters & armies. In truth, more important than if the glass is half-full or half-empty; is that we should all learn there is a FAUCET nearby that we should notice & use! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
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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.
