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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Rabbi David b"r Avraham Levi Melamed
Question: Why did our sages establish the 1st of Tishrei as the New Year for planting, and the 15th of Shevat as the New Year for trees? Why designate two different days?
The Gemarah in Rosh Hashanah states, "The 1st of Shevat is the New Year for trees. What is the reason for this?" Rabbi Oshea attributes this date to be the New Year for trees because "most of the rain has fallen." The Meiri explains that the 15th of Shevat falls exactly in the middle of the winter period, which continues until the 1st of the month of Nisan. At that point, half of the winter has passed and "its power has been weakened, the coldness that was prevalent before is not as strong, and the ripening of the fruits continues and succeeds." The spring draws close and the tree steadily marches towards it final goal- to give forth its fruit. Until now it was a tree that was receiving, and now it is changed to a tree that gives of its fruits. The tree begins to reveal its hidden qualities and move from its potential state to its active state.
On the first of Tishrei, after the summer, the land is dry and withdraws within itself, thus not allowing itself to be "exploited." In contrast, on the first of Nisan, Spring arrives and the forces of nature are renewed. Everything in the plant and animal world renews itself and begins to flourish. Nissan is also the month in which the nation of Israel was born.
The holiday of the trees, which falls in the middle of the winter period, toward the month of Nisan, symbolizes the beginning of the awakening of potential growth. The 15th of Shevat represents the period prior to the beginning of the movement from potential to actual, which reaches its peak in the month of Nisan.
Hashem created the world, according to the opinion of Rabbi Eliezar, on the first of Tishrei, although only in the month of Nisan are all the hidden forces of the world revealed: the forces of nature and the land, as well as spiritual and metaphysical forces. Therefore, the 1st of Tishrei was established as the New Year for planting, far from the day in which the trees will actually give its fruit, and the 15th of Shevat as the New Year for the Trees , when the beginning of the stirring of the forces of the land in Israel bring forth its holy fruits. It is not by accident that fruits that were forbidden to be eaten from the moment of planting become permissible on the 15th of Shevat. In their first years of planting the fruits belong to the world above (like a form of engagement), and then they descend to the ordinary world. It is desirable that our first meeting with these fruits occurs on the 15th of Shevat, as this day represents the beginning of the descent to our world, the mundane world, of all the forces that exist.
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.
