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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 (45)
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
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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: Inability to Pass on Abandoned Tradition – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 733 (1937)
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: Character Refinement – part V
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p.154
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
