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Beit Midrash
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- Moreshet Shaul
Every place in the exile with ten Jews brought stones and earth from Eretz Yisrael to build their houses of prayer (batei knesset) and Torah study (batei medrash), giving the people a feeling of the Land of the Patriarchs, of the Holy Land. These edifices were independent public domains, extraterritorial areas, impenetrable to the atmosphere of the exile.
This recalls the Maharsha’s teaching on the story in Berachot 8a: They told R. Yochanan that there are old people in Bavel. He stated his surprise: The pasuk says "… so that your days and the days of your children will be many on the Land" (Devarim 11:21), implying not in the Diaspora. Once they told him the old men had gone early to batei knesset and returned late, he said: "That is what worked for them." The Maharsha explains that the batei knesset and batei medrash in Bavel will eventually be established in Eretz Yisrael, so that it is as if they were "on the Land."
Thus, the financial backbone of the communities, the lay leadership of the batei knesset and batei medrash in the Diaspora over the generations, have all served as ambassadors of Eretz Yisrael. By establishing these institutions, they guarded the holy fire, preventing it from going out. In those houses, the independence of Israel was preserved; they drew from there the power of the spirit and the selfless dedication to stand strong against ruthless enemies. Hashem promised Yaakov He would protect him in Egypt: "Yosef will place his hand over your eyes" (Bereishit 46:4). Yosef represented the financier and lay leadership of Diaspora communities. He took steps to prevent assimilation with Egypt in that first exile. This was the guarantee that the Divine Presence would dwell among Jewish communities even in the lands of their dispersion. The "eyes of the nation" in subsequent exiles learned from the precedent of Yosef in Egypt.
Now, the continuation of the pasuk is also becoming a reality: "I will indeed bring you up." The wonders of wonders (The 6 Day War) that are happening before our eyes show vividly all who have eyes to see and ears to hear that the day of complete liberation is approaching. Realize that together with Israel’s liberation comes the Divine Presence’s liberation. In fact, Israel’s liberation is conditional on the Divine Presence’s liberation, as Chazal’s aforementioned statement says: "In the future, batei knesset and batei medrash in Bavel will be established in Eretz Yisrael." This is because there is no liberation of the body without liberation of the soul. The prophecy of liberation is not just the vision of bones getting closer to each other and flesh and skin growing on them (see Yechezkel 37), but also the insertion of Hashem’s spirit into the nation that dwells in Zion.
We must once again remember the pasuk about Yaakov’s dependence on Yosef and his promised return to Eretz Yisrael. You, Jewish leaders, the eyes of the communities, look at the "hand of Yosef" pointing to Zion and Jerusalem. Hear his last will and testament, "Hashem will certainly redeem you" (Bereishit 50:25). Yosef reached the greatest heights of power in the first exile. He did not undergo the terror of Egyptian subjugation, thousands of years of persecution, or the disappointments at the hands of cultures who broke their promises. Yosef commanded – his one desire is to be taken posthumously to Eretz Yisrael. For honor and riches one gets in foreign lands will not bring real blessing; the niceties come and go. Even the staying power of the prayer and study halls abroad are based on their connection to Eretz Yisrael, where they must be brought in the future.
The Israeli stones and earth in your edifices scream to you: "Return us to our origin." May the shine of gold and conveniences of foreign lands not blind you. Do not believe the imaginary stability. Do not believe you can preserve proper Judaism anywhere. The Land is calling you, as is the Western Wall. The walls of the Holy Temple which we are uncovering are calling, as is the Divine Presence – return to our origin to "raise up the House of Hashem and rebuild the ruins" (Ezra 9:9).
Moreshet Shaul (46)
Various Rabbis
41 - MORESHET SHAUL: TWO ELEMENTS TO WORK ON – PART III
42 - MORESHET SHAUL: OVERVIEW OF THE RAMBAM’S APPROACH
43 - MORESHET SHAUL: THE STUDY OF CHUMASH
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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: Members of the Nation Who Are in The Fields
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 95 (from 1942)
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: Character Refinement – part IV
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: Returning Torah to its Central Standing – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 312
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.
