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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Shabbat
- The spiritual view
Shabat is the Jewish affirmation that we live in a universe created and sustained by Divine Will. This is the supreme religious value which Shabat represents. As we come to understand more of the physical laws that govern our universe, the Jew is strengthened in this belief in a created universe and in the presence of a Creator. Einstein famously said in regard to his search for underlying general theories that would explain the behavior of the physical universe: "God does not play with dice." Even though one is privileged to believe whatever one wishes - this is the Jewish idea of bechira chafshith - nevertheless the existence and the observance of Shabat for thousands of years stands as strong testimony and eternal belief in created world and not in randomness or pure chance. To affirm this concept of created and Creator, we are given laws and behavior patterns that sanctify and separate this day of Shabat from all other days and mundane functions. Shabat becomes a day of testimony to creation and to eternity - the twin pillars of Jewish belief. It is not accidental at all therefore that Shabat observance is the dividing line in halachic rulings between Jewish continuity and eventual assimilation and loss. Though Shabat observance per se does not guarantee Jewish family success in all instances, it is clear that Shabat non-observance opens the door wide to the free fall of assimilation, intermarriage and self-hatred that is unfortunately rampant in today’s Jewish world. The words of Achad Haam that "More than the Jews guarded the Shabat, the Shabat guarded the Jews" have never rung more true than today.
The other underpinning value of Shabat is to remind of our own uniqueness as a people with a mission and a destiny. Though Judaism taught the world about the gift of a day of rest during the week, the particularity of observance of this day of rest has remained uniquely and exclusively Jewish. This is what all the laws and rituals are all about. Hillel said that "If I am not for myself - particular and exclusive - than what am I?" That is one of the great aspects of Shabat - it is about ourselves, our past, our tradition and hopes. It awakens within us our sense of uniqueness and self-worth. We have shared the idea of a day of rest with all of humankind for "If I am only for myself, then again what am I?" But Shabat has remained only ours for it exemplifies the supreme value of the combination of Jewish particularism and universality that is so characteristic of Torah and Judaism. To retain this value, laws, ritual, behavior patterns are required in order to give actual life to otherwise lofty but theoretical values. Thus Shabat as a basic Jewish value lives on through our observances and appreciation of that holy day.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
