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Beit Midrash
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- Rain in Israel
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Rabbi Uzi Kalcheim, zt”l
Because we live in a developing region with a growing population, our need for water is ever growing. Our agriculture is not stagnant; it does not remain on a primitive level that demands little water. It is dynamic and active. It thrives and innovates in many areas. Therefore, we must learn how to make the most efficient use possible of our water sources.
But we must understand that this is not our problem alone, a problem of the State of Israel; rather, it is a problem that affects our whole region. And in truth, when we speak about peace, and before we speak about peace, we must speak about living together, knowing how to live together.
The Midrash relates a story about a non-Jew who asks R' Yehoshua ben Korcha a question: "You have your holidays, and we have our holidays. When you rejoice we do not rejoice; when we rejoice you do not rejoice. When do we ever rejoice together?"
If we try, we can find all sorts of parallel holidays: We have Pesach (Passover) and they have "Pascha" (Easter); we have Chanukah and they have other holidays. We are unable to rejoice on their holidays, for we cannot relate to them at all. Is there, then, no occasion on which we rejoice together?
"He answered, '[We rejoice together] when the rain falls.' Why is this? 'The meadows are clothed with flocks; the valleys are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, yea, they sing' " (Psalms 65:14).
Rain in Israel (17)
Rabbi Uzi Kalchaim zt"l
5 - A Shared Blessing
6 - The Blessing of Rain for All
7 - The Condensed Blessing
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The Midrash continues:
"What is written after this? 'Shout unto God, all the earth.' It is not written ['Shout unto God] Priests, Levites, and Israelites,' but 'Shout . . . all the earth!' "
In other words, when we see heavenly blessing bestowed upon the earth, we see a shared joy, a joy that embraces everybody - man, animal, and, of course, the different nations. Therefore, true joy comes when the rain falls, for rain benefits us all, and allows all creatures to live and thrive.
The Almighty does not take pleasure in destroying the world. Therefore, before we talk about peace, we must speak about a just distribution of water. And if our enemies are unwilling to speak to us about water, about a fair division of water in our region, if they do not wish to pursue life, the preservation of life, but opt for the abolition of life, we must seek out an occasion for shared joy, as the non-Jew asks R' Yehoshua, "Is there no occasion on which we both rejoice?"
This is a heavenly blessing, for God nourishes and sustains all, "from the horns of the antelope to the eggs of the lice." He bestows life upon the entire creation. We, for our part, have to learn how to live together. If we so choose, we can live a rich and blessed life; we can share the bounty that God bequeaths upon us all, 'Shout unto God, all the earth.' All of humankind must rejoice in God's goodness and in the bounty that descends upon the earth.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
