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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Moreshet Shaul
One who sits down in the evening next to a gemara, an Ein Yaakov, or a Chumash, sets aside time for Torah study in the morning, or is a supporter of Torah – his world changes. You are fortunate that you have a kollel (the address was to a group in Tel Aviv) where Torah is taught in a broad manner, and they do not suffice with a little in the morning and at night. You support them and make sure to do that in a dignified manner. This turns your professions, your earnings, your concern for a good livelihood, into something spiritual – "as the days that the heavens are above the land" (Devarim 11:21) – spiritual days. They are not mundane, material days of work, but spiritual days. Even when one is occupied with other things, his actions are a result of a spiritual concern, of study that brings to action. The work is not plain work, but work that is related to Torah.
This is the main point that is missing these days. We have to warn those who think that it is worthwhile to watch television, beyond the news, but rather broadcasts of entertainment. We need no other entertainment but Torah. "Your dodim are better than wine" (Shir Hashirim 1:2). [We can explain it that] just like a baby enjoys the taste of nursing from his mother, so too with Torah, the more you imbibe, the better it tastes for you. We do not need to look for other recreation. At the moment we concentrate our lives around Torah study and begin to love it and see it as "our life and the length of our days" – and this is not an external expression but a real situation where our whole lives are centered on something spiritual – then our days are heaven on earth. In this fashion we will find the true content of our life and also our connection to Eretz Yisrael, and especially to Jerusalem.
We speak about Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. What is a capital? Is it like London and Moscow are capitals of their countries? That is not enough for us, and does not accomplish anything. Let Tel Aviv be the capital, who cares?! We must see Jerusalem as the Holy City, the place where, when the Temple was standing, people would go up to it "to learn to fear Hashem, your Lord, all of the days" (Devarim 14:23). A person who was in Jerusalem would soak up the atmosphere of sanctity and purity. This is what gave Jerusalem its value, as the city of sanctity, and for this reason it is the capital, as it is sanctity that brings on kingship and grandeur.
We are in the week of sefirat ha’omer that is connected to grandeur. The State of Israel is in its essence founded upon grandeur. We could have lived in foreign lands, at least when they let us live. There are dangers here as well. We are here because it is our spiritual cradle. This is where our forefathers created a practice of prophecy. Yehoshua passed on the Torah to the elders, who passed it on to the prophets, who passed it on to the Men of the Great Assembly. The fact that there is this uninterrupted chain of "You shall inform your sons and your sons’ sons … [of the receipt of the Torah] at Sinai" (Devarim 4:9) is the main thing that we see in Eretz Yisrael. This is the reason we need a state. We are not belittling the state, and we need to develop it. In a few days, we will celebrate Independence Day. Some people will feel that it has no value; this is a denial of Hashem’s gift to us. Hashem gave us this vessel (the state), and we need to fill it with true content, which it needs, is capable of, and will have.
May Hashem put in the midst of the community living in Zion a true spirit, which shall allow the building and establishment of Jerusalem, so that the nations of the world will see that Hashem’s Name is upon us, and they will fear us.
Moreshet Shaul (48)
Various Rabbis
44 - MORESHET SHAUL: REGULATION OF LAND RIGHTS IN A SETTLEMENT EXTENSION – PART I
45 - MORESHET SHAUL: THE DAYS THAT THE HEAVEN IS ABOVE THE LAND – PART II
46 - MORESHET SHAUL: THE STAFF OF PLEASANTNESS
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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 V
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Discipline in Informal Education – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 168
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Jewish Philosophy in Daily Life
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 250
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: What Connects Us as a Nation – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 704
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.
