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Beit Midrash
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- Tzedaka - Charity
Though I have no empirical proof to back up this statement, I am convinced that the ability to be regularly charitable is connected with observance of Jewish ritual and other Torah commandments. My anecdotal experiences buttress this contention of mine. People who need help invariably turn to neighborhoods of religious Jews to find it. The religious Jewish world has constructed a firm and elaborate system of help to those in need. This system includes hundreds of free-loan societies, medical referral help, social and educational welfare programs, wedding sponsorship for indigent families and a host of other services and charitable outreach. Though governmental help can often be found to help these situations as well, the vast majority of all of this charitable help is privately funded and by the general Jewish religious community and not by the wealthy alone. I have seen poor beggars share their meager collections with others whom they somehow deem to be less fortunate than even they are. The Talmud even justifies giving charity to the charlatans and cheats who exploit our generosity by stating: "If it were not for the presence of those whom we suspect to be charlatans we would possess no excuse whatsoever for not truly fulfilling our obligation of giving charity!" The Torah always demands of us that we err on the side of goodness and compassion. We should never regret or feel badly about having given charity or help to others.
In our over-organized society many people never give charity to individuals directly. Charity is given to large organizations that are then charged with its distribution. These organizations are valuable and necessary and most of them are clever and honest and efficient in doing their charitable work. Yet this type of charitable giving is faceless, unemotional and to a great extent impersonal. This type of giving also restricts the number of times a person gives. Maimonides points out that it is better to give five shekel to ten different poor people than to give fifty shekel to one lone person. The amount of charity given remains the same. But in giving ten times, one trains one’s hand to give, so that the muscles of charitable giving will not atrophy over time. The Torah also wished us to have personal contact with the poor and the needy. Halacha not only dictates that we should give charity but also the attitude that we exhibit when so doing. A good word and a smile is also part of the charitable act. People who give charity as a part of a daily routine of their lives find it easier to overcome any feelings of resentment or being exploited and put upon. Thus charitable giving, in order to benefit the giver as much as it does the taker, must be a regular and ongoing feature of one’s life and deeds.
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.
