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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
"Korachism" found in this week's parsha, is an ideology appearing in Christianity, socialism, and extreme feminism, claiming we are all identical. Judaism alternatively harmonizes the unique good of each person, ideology and religion. Just as our Saturday Shabbat symbolically mediates between Islam's Friday and Christianity's Sunday, Rav Kook writes brilliantly in kabbalistic terms that Israel teaches the balance: that Avraham's Chessed (morality) which Christianity took to an unlivable extreme ("if one strikes you, turn the other cheek and let him strike you again"), and Yitzchak's Gevura (strength), which many Moslems take to a terrorist extreme (Jihad) are supposed to unite in Ya'akov/Yisrael's Tiferet (harmony) (ibid 5, 4). That's why Israel is presently showing the Christian world that naïve wimps are doomed, and that Moslem Jihadists should be, as well. Here's the link to the short article: https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1179166
Although only about 10% of Europe, Moslems are easily taking over that continent (as seen in their elections and anti-Israel rhetoric) because they know exactly who they are and what they want (Jihad), while the other Europeans are contrarily busy UPROOTING their own subjective national identities. Many EXTREME leftist and global ideologies follow the "Korachism" in this week's parsha, claiming we are all identical, and there's no essential difference between people (although they somehow forgive Arab nationalism…). Christianity claims "you don't have to be Jewish" and anyone who accepts their religion is now the Chosen People; socialism opines that all mankind is alike; and feminism in its early form also sang "anything you can do I can do better!". But we all know that Jews cannot be gentiles, and even Yisraelim and regular Levi'im cannot be Kohanim and vice-versa, just as men cannot give birth and normal women cannot box like men (as seen in the last Olympics…).
Rav Kook writes that whenever the world goes to any extreme, Israel, as always, is meant to return equilibrium to mankind (Orot Yisrael 8, 7-8). There is a delicate BALANCING-act between individualism and nationalism, particularism and universalism, and today's west is, like Korach, strongly over-leaning towards the identicalness of mankind. Just when they think to weaken the family unit, comes Israel with our Leil Shabbat family dinners and highest western birthrate (even among the secular) to limit that extremism. Just as western youth forego values in exchange for social media, the Israeli Shabbat and our young soldiers' recent altruistic war show that idealism and nationalism are still "alive and kicking" and one need not come at the expense of the other.
Rav Kook explains the names of his "Orot" books (Orot HaKodesh ii, p. 440), that the difference between light (Or) and darkness, is that when you take all of the colors and "mush" them together, one on top of the other, you get "darkness". But if you take those exact colors and arrange them in the proper order, where each color is individually expressed and harmonizes with the others, that is the prism which comprises light.
This G-dly UNITY is THE SECRET of the world (music harmonizes the varying sounds as opposed to anarchy which sounds terrible; a salad is tasty as opposed to mushing those same vegetable together in a blender; art matches the various colors as opposed to clashing them). Rav Kook stresses diversity, and every stream and movement has part of the unified Godly truth, and the only way the One G-d is revealed to the world is through the revelation of all of the truths together (Hassidim & Mitnagdim, right-wing (nationalist) and left-wing (universalists), religious & Zionist, masculine & feminine etc.).
Just as our Saturday Shabbat symbolically mediates between Islam's Friday and Christianity's Sunday, Rav Kook writes brilliantly in kabbalistic terms that Israel teaches the balance: that Avraham's Chessed (morality) which Christianity took to an unlivable extreme ("if one strikes you, turn the other cheek and let him strike you again"), and Yitzchak's Gevura (strength), which many Moslems take to a terrorist extreme (Jihad) are supposed to unite in Ya'akov/Yisrael's Tiferet (harmony) (ibid 5, 4). That's why Israel is presently showing the Christian world that naïve wimps are doomed, and that Moslem Jihadists should be, as well.
In addition to good music and salads, this is the key to a happy marriage, a healthy society (not only tolerating but appreciating each individual for who they are), a peaceful world (don't force your religion upon anyone!) and a generally happy and "wealthy" life for the individual & mankind alike.
I was once asked by a transgender from Germany if Judaism would accept him as a convert? I answered that without getting into the question of on which side of the mechitza s/he should sit, why doesn't s/he just love her/himself like G-d does?! If you're jealous that the "grass is always greener on the other side", you can never achieve happiness, for today's opportunities are almost endless. If one is in the "mode" of jealousy, there will always seem to be a better option. "Who is wealthy? One who's happy with his lot" (Avot 4, 1).
Globalization should and will eventually be good, but that doesn't justify "Koraching", artificially blurring or being jealous of the beautiful uniqueness of every individual, group or nation.
Especially for western Jews, the obscuring of identity is another word for assimilation and intermarriage. It was always a problem in America, but how much more so when some Jews turn it into an ideology. Not just blurring one's gender but actively erasing their Jewish identity, being embarrassed of their Jewish State and brothers in the IDF, is no less than personal suicide & unhappiness.
I won't be surprised if in the end, like in Germany & Columbia University, the anti-Semites will save these Jews from themselves by telling them they are unwanted because they are Jews. Just as an individual Jew can try baptizing himself 100 times, but it will never wash away his essence, so too history has proven the same to those "Wanna-Be gentiles".
But we pray "Shelo asani goy", asking Hashem that He should make me proud of the way He made me, without needing the gentiles to be the ones to "make me Jewish". 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 Complete G-dliness Doesn't Weaken But Enhances Natural Drives
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 50
The Giving of the Torah When Should We Use Facts, Logic or Kabbala in Learning Torah?
Ein Aya Shabbat 4 7
Ein Aya Understanding the Beauty of Shabbat - Tasting the World to Come
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter A Paragraph 15
Peninei Halakha 5. Weddings and Engagements during the Omer Period
Chapter 3: Customs of Mourning during the Omer Period
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
