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The Torah study is dedicatedin honor of
Rachel Bat Yakut
Rav S.Y. Zevin tells of a tzaddik known as the Bat Ayin who was the rabbi of a city in Russia. A meshulach from Eretz Israel came and described the beauty and majesty of the Land. In summation, he said, "Rebbe, what more can I say; the simple stones of Israel are mamash yahalomim (truly diamonds)." Very inspired, the Rebbe decided to make aliyah. After much travail and effort, he arrived in Tzfat and was immediately recognized as a a rabbinic leader and tzaddik.
Years later, the Rebbe met the meshulach and thanked him profusely. "I see with my own eyes that your praises of the Land are true, except what you said about the stones being diamonds." The meshulach's response: "Nu, when one is zocheh, one sees." Taken aback and quite agitated, the Rebbe ran home, locked himself in his study, and did not emerge for several weeks. Finally, in a state of great joy, he came out and requested that a banquet be prepared. At the feast, the Bat Ayin retold the events precipitating his aliyah and his recent reencounter with the meshulach: "I am certain," he said, "that this was a message from above that I had not yet been zocheh to a true appreciation of our Holy Land! I fasted and implored God to open my eyes. Today, I can finally say, in truth, that I see the simple stones of Israel as diamonds!" The holy stones already exist. We merely need the eyes to appreciate them!
The Talmud relates: "All who mourn over Jerusalem will merit and see its rejoicing." Rav Kook asks: Why isn't it sufficient to say he will "see" its rejoicing? He explains that many people will one day see Jerusalem in its glory, but only those with the "eyes" and special merit will experience and appreciate its splendor!
In these past ten months, I have merited to see the holiness of Eretz Israel in four ways. My davening and learning have been enhanced and intensified with a "booster shot" of spiritual vitamins. The chesed performed by "regular" people leaves me speechless. And, finally, the range of skin tones, languages, cultures, and hashkafot leave me breathless! May we all merit quickly to see the diamond inside every stone of our Land and in every Jew!
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.
