YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Tazria
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Yom Haatzmaut
We always comforted mourners that they should be comforted "together with all of the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim: (Prisha, Y.D. 393), for the real comfort is to be with YOUR own. Unfortunately for 2,000 years that comfort did not come (until now)!
Perhaps because of the universality of anti-Semitism, as expressed in chazal ("[It's a] halacha that Esav hates Ya'akov", Sifre Bamidbar 69), we unfortunately sometimes tend to make simplistic associations, & lump all this hatred together, for in fact "in every generation the [gentiles] rise up to eradicate us" ("והיא שעמדה"). Similarly, as Jewish history is somewhat cyclical, we somewhat justifiably associate our present war with Iran as just another link in that chain of "Anti-Semites".
On the other hand, Rav Kook (Ayn Aya Brachot 7, 15) explains that just as it's important to learn history ("זכור ימות עולם") for it somewhat repeats itself, but the continuation is "בינו שנות דור ודור" (=examine and notice the differences between every generation).
As we've written previously, although they are so close on the calendar, there is no comparison between Yom HaShoa and Yom HaZikaron, and how much more so, the systematic eradication of 6,000,000 Jews in the Shoah is totally different on almost all accounts from our present war with Iran. There's no comparison between having to occasionally carry our children to the shelter just to be safe, and the child (later Prof.) Yaffa Eliach's baby brother being suffocated so the Nazis won't hear his crying reveal the family's hiding place.
Not only are we Jews comforted today in being back together again "in Tzion and Yerushalayim", and not only are we stronger than we were 80 years ago, but even compared to 2 years ago, before Oct. 7th/Simchat Torah. Hamas is hiding like mice in their tunnels, Lebanon and Syria are begging us for peace treaties, and even the giant Iran is helpless against our air-force. Our status in the Mid-East, the world and the present President Trump, the most influential person in the world, is stronger than it ever has been for the past 3,000 years (with some specific exceptions right after the Six Day War), and approaching what it was in the time of David HaMelech. With Hashem's help, "we've come a long way"!
According to the US News, we are the 10th strongest country in the world (militarily and economically) out of 193 in the United Nations (ahead of England, Canada and almost everyone)! We hope that the present cease-fire will lead to good peace agreements, because BH they are out of a position of strength and not weakness. We surely have a lot to thank Hashem for on this coming יום ד'/Wed., Yom haAtzma'ut! Chodesh Tov & Shabbat Shalom! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
Ein Aya Why Judaism Respects the Corpse and the Dead- Eternity, Not Superstition
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 52
Additional Lessons Answering Accusations of Israeli-Occupation
& Why the Moral Mitzvot are Geared Only to Jews- Not Gentiles?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
