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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 Practical Tricks How Not to Accept Gossip by Giving the Benefit of the Doubt
Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 65
Additional Lessons Answering Accusations of Israeli-Occupation
& Why the Moral Mitzvot are Geared Only to Jews- Not Gentiles?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
