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Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- The Land of Israel
By comparison, although Israel is not yet ideal, it's by far the most Jewish State in the world. Here, the traditional family as expressed in Leil Shabbat family dinners (not found in any other culture) and the highest western birthrate (almost double the OECD average!) are the norm and positive cultural influence. Contrarily, the US (including the Moslem Mamdani) even recognizes (!) same-sex marriages, but in Israel it's illegal, as is intermarriage (a problem obviously rampant throughout the States…), so what does your brother gain on this account by living in the States?
Thank G-d, the LBGT's are a relatively small minority in Israel, and center mainly in one city, Tel Aviv, so you don't really "see them" and they don't influence our children. They are clearly not represented in the government (just by part of the opposition parties which don't have power). This is simply part of democracy, which on the whole is good, but inevitably that also enables problematic phenomena, like having to allow Gay parades. I don't think your brother would want to live in a dictatorship. Rav Kook (Igrot I, p. 20) explains that in the modern world, Hashem wants us to observe Torah out of identifying with the mitzvot and loving them, which is a higher level, and not by force of the law. That's also probably why He hasn't given us a Sanhedrin yet, which might have to "force" the mitzvot, which will inevitably turn a lot of Jews off. This is exactly what free-will is about, which distinguishes us from the rest of creation.
Statistically and politically, any way you look at it the State of Israel is getting more religious, every day and surely every year, but as we learned in Rav Kook (based on Orot HaTchiya, ch. 4), "The eternal nation is not scared of a long journey". That's the evolution and constant improvement upon which the world is based.
Also, we have a mitzvah d'oraita to love all Jews like brothers, even if a brother is not only "off the derech" but even "off the wall"! Thank G-d that at least these brothers are in Israel, eat matzah on Pesach, fast on Yom Kippur, celebrate all of the holidays, don't work on Shabbat, have mezuzot on their homes and eat kosher (for that's Israeli society, whether one believes or not!), davka because they are here. Imagine how much worse off they would be if they weren't living in Israel (like my totally assimilated relatives in the States). They're always within an "arms-length" (or a couple of hugs of Ahavat Yisrael) to be brought closer to Torah and mitzvot, especially as 35% of young adults (between ages 16-35) have become since our present war.
Similarly, the Belzer Rebbe, R. Aharon Rokach admitted to R. Shalom Nossan Ra'anan, the son-in-law of Rav Kook, "We disagreed regarding how to bring Jews on Aliyah. We said that first we should strengthen their Judaism abroad, and only then should they make Aliyah to build the Land in holiness. While you said that we should bring them on Aliyah as soon as possible, no matter how they are. After the Holocaust, it became clear that we were mistaken, and we are very sorry about it" (Responsa Shoel v'Nishal, 1, p. 270). As Hashem tells us, "I wish Israel should be with Me in the Land of Israel, even if they defile her" (Yalkut Shimoni, Eicha, 1038).
Finally, if your brother wants Israel to improve and hurry the process, he should davka make aliya and vote, have lots of children, and be mekarev as many Israelis as possible!
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 Why Judaism Respects the Corpse and the Dead- Eternity, Not Superstition
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 52
Ein Aya Complete G-dliness Doesn't Weaken But Enhances Natural Drives
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 50
Additional Lessons Answering Accusations of Israeli-Occupation
& Why the Moral Mitzvot are Geared Only to Jews- Not Gentiles?
Ein Aya "Putting Down" the Exile and Living Outside Israel
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter A Paragraph 69 (p2)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
