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Beit Midrash
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- Moreshet Shaul
With a feeling of relief, you are sitting at this party and are enjoying the first "benefits" of the ability to breathe at ease. The period of work and sweat has passed; tests are completed; grades have been received. You can now lounge around with a mood of laziness and catch some extra sleep at a later than usual hour.
I want to share my personal thoughts with you. I would like to shake up the undoing of the tension [from the long year of study]. [On the obvious level,] the grades were received; but were they really received? This question is especially relevant in the topic that we have been involved in over the last two years – Machshevet Yisrael (Jewish Philosophy). You should remember that it was hard for me to give grades, and you would argue: "But we know the material!" You must realize that the main thing is not to know the material; the main question is to what extent Machshevet Yisrael turned into the way you think – Yehuda, or Moshe, or Shmuel. The real test will take place when you are in the swimming pool, or perhaps the ball fields, or the army base, or in the marketplaces of life.
This subject of Machshevet Yisrael has fallen into a difficult position – it is required to instill the spirit into the Torah, to reveal the light of the Torah, and to instill its soul into the soul of every student. After all, the Torah is part of the external framework of mitzva actions. Torah is indeed a guide to the life of activity. Our task today is the same one that stood before atomic researchers – to blast open the physical kernel and to return it to the energy from which it was formed. So, Jewish philosophy must demonstrate the light that is in the belief of the unity of Hashem, to inculcate in people the true essence of service of Hashem, and to explain that this service is not servitude but rather it is the full expression of our freedom.
It is also possible that you will be presented with the opposite task. Namely, it may be necessary to take the energy, and to return it to a practical framework, to apply it to different enterprises. This includes finding solutions for the most fundamental questions of life that arise and to operate in the public sphere in Israeli society according to this discovered spirit. It will not be sufficient to know the truth yourselves. We are calling upon you to do much more than that. You are called upon to blow a spirit of life into a downtrodden collective. If you do that, life will give you the grade you have earned.
Moreshet Shaul (45)
Various Rabbis
37 - Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part V
38 - Moreshet Shaul: Jewish Philosophy in Daily Life
39 - MORESHET SHAUL: TWO ELEMENTS TO WORK ON – PART I
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Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Returning Torah to its Central Standing – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 312
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Responsible Innovation in the Oral Law
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 61-62
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
