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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
The Smag (R. Moshe of Coucy, one of the ba'alei Tosafot) in his introduction to his counting of the mitzvot, tells of two dreams which he stresses he is not fabricating! G-d told him in a vision that he should write a new book counting the mitzvot, for the Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot omits some of the most important commandments. The Smag awoke and got to work, but as he was completing the job, he received a second vision telling him that he also forgot that MOST IMPORTANT mitzva of don't be arrogant which leads to forgetting G-d (Dvarim 8, 11). Just as by Moshe, we must understand why modesty is so central to Torah?
Our first thought would probably be that one who is arrogant doesn't like to be told, even by Hashem, what to do! How much more so regarding the mitzvot bein adam l'chavero (morality between our fellow man), that an egoist has more difficulty not to put down others, not steal, etc. We also know that socially it's much more pleasant to be around thoughtful and considerate people, so society and the Jewish State gain.
But Rav Kook (Orot HaKodesh iii, p. 147) and his prized pupil Rav Charlap (MiMaynei HaYeshua, p. 12) stress that Jewish nationalism inevitably educates to humility & ALTRUISM, selfless giving, which is the key to G-dliness. It's the only possible reason why G-d created the world. As the Ramchal writes (Derech Hashem 1, 2), He doesn't lack or need anything, yet created the world out of the ideal of SELFLESS giving, which is the only motive which doesn't infer that He needed anything.
Living in the context of a Jewish State inevitably brings out in us that Godly altruism. The clearest example is the IDF where one gives 3 entire years, in addition to an annual month in milu'im (not to mention when we are at war, where my boys and sons-in-law have each done more than 400 days away from their wives, children, jobs and yeshivot), and if necessary even give their life for Am Yisrael. Giving time and money is great, but to even sacrifice your very life is as selfless as man can get. One can always volunteer anywhere in the world, but the obligation turns the IDF and Sherut Le'umi into a super-high NORM for all Israelis.
Even showering and flushing toilets in Israel, where there is a constant water shortage, demands us to be considerate. Only in Israel do we listen and follow the news obsessively, for all problems and issues are Jewish ones. If there is chalila a lost child or fire in any community, the Jews will obviously pitch in to help their fellow Jew, but in Israel, all lost children, fires, attacks, kidnapping etc. are all Jewish issues where we must constantly think altruistically, "how can I help out"? If you see a Yid with a kippa with his car broken down along the Chicago highway, we would all help out, but realize that in Israel, even if he is without a kippa it obligates me for he is just as Jewish as anyone.
The stereotype Israeli is often drawn as a kibbutznik, for that "all for one and one for all" is what having a Jewish State is about. I recall reading an article by a gentile sociologist whose thesis is that a culture's dance reflects it's view of society. When the waltz was in, the hugging of the man and woman expressed the strength of marriage and family. As the twist and disco evolved, it paralleled and expressed the turning inward of the "Me Generation". But he then showed the opposite phenomena in the Israeli Dance, the Hora, where the circle expands from the family unit and even includes everyone as partners and equal.
In short, living in a Jewish State, as the Tanach norm, and as obligated by the Rambam (Igrot HaRambam, p. 66), is not just good to prevent assimilation and fight anti-Semitism, for we have the home-court advantage (how much more important in a global world with global culture and anti-Semitism!), but actually helps us achieve humility emulating Moshe Rabbenu and even G-d Himself in the small actions of day to day life!
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.
Additional Lessons Answering Accusations of Israeli-Occupation
& Why the Moral Mitzvot are Geared Only to Jews- Not Gentiles?
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.
