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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Moreshet Shaul
"I came to the destroyed city; it is desolate, without its children, and I appropriately mourned: ‘Zion became a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation’ (Yeshayahu 64:9). When I was near the city, opposite its gateway, I ripped my clothes over her. And when I came opposite the great and holy House, we called out with great wailing: ‘Our father, the merciful father, Israel is neither an orphan nor a widower, for Your mercy is upon them in every place and at every moment.’"
Subsequently, he established the first shul in Jerusalem in which both Sephardim and Ashkenazim prayed, and boldly urged to return and claim the Land we inherited from our forefathers.
He left his home and his family in Spain and moved to Eretz Yisrael not only due to his churning heart and emotional yearnings. It is also due to a binding halachic obligation, which he established as an unmovable "stake in the ground." He expresses this idea in his comments on the Rambam’s Book of Mitzvot (omitted positive mitzva #4):
"… we were commanded to possess the Land that Hashem gave our fathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, and not leave it in the hands of any nation but us or to desolation … It is a positive commandment for all generations, obligating everyone, even in the time of exile."
With these words he built the halachic foundation, and his actions provided a personal example. From that point, the Jewish settlement of Eretz Yisrael progressively grew and broadened from generation to generation and era to era. The longings for Zion "took on flesh and skin," and there has been a real push to fulfill this mitzva with one’s fullest dedication of self and resources. Driven by his direct strength and its enduring ripple effects, pious and dynamic idealists were drawn to Eretz Yisrael. Permanent Jewish population centers were established and maintained in four areas of the Holy Land – Yerushalayim, Tzfat, Teveria, and Chevron. They inspired the pre-Herzl religious Zionist movement, which led to the developments of the hundred years leading to the establishment of the State of Israel and the wondrous phenomenon of standing by the gates and expanded boundaries of the Six Day War.
Moreshet Shaul (48)
Various Rabbis
46 - MORESHET SHAUL: THE STAFF OF PLEASANTNESS
47 - I Will Bring You Back Up – part I
48 - I Will Bring You Back Up – part II
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Let us raise the memory of the father of the Jewish settlement of Eretz Yisrael, our master and teacher, the Ramban zt"l and firmly accept to follow his path.
This obligation to possess the Land, which the Ramban posited devolves on each person, as a positive commandment for all generations, takes on special significance in relation to communal leaders, including lay leadership of synagogues and study halls throughout the world.
Let us analyze the section from the parasha we just read. Hashem said to our patriarch Yaakov: "Do not fear going down to Egypt … I will go with you to Egypt and will bring you up, and Yosef will place his hands over your eyes" (Bereishit 46:3-4). Israel did not enter exile alone, as the Divine Presence accompanied them into each place of exile (Megilla 29a). The gemara continues with the question of where one can find the Divine Presence outside Eretz Yisrael. It mentions two specific batei knesset in Bavel. Rashi (ad loc.) explains that Yechanya built them with the earth and stones he brought into the exile, based on the pasuk, "For His servants wanted her stones and desired her earth" (Tehillim 102:15).
We continue next time.
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: Jewish Philosophy in Daily Life
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 250
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Connection between Talmid Chacham and Am Ha’aretz
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 665
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: What Connects Us as a Nation – part I
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.
