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The efod (roughly, an apron) covered the kohen gadol’s torso. Over the efod was the choshen (breastplate). The two were connected by a blue string, whose purpose the Torah describes as "v’lo yizach hachoshen me’al ha’efod" (the breastplate shall not be separated from the efod) (Shemot 28:28). Remember this pasuk as we take a look at the linguistic proof that an important gemara learns from it.
The gemara (Chulin 6b-7a) tells the story of R. Yehuda Hanasi, who arrived at a major leniency regarding ma’asrot (tithes) in the region of Beit She’an. He was asked how he could do such a thing considering that his predecessors had assumed differently than he. If his thesis were true, would his more illustrious predecessors have missed it? He answered by citing a pasuk about Chizkiyahu (Melachim II, 18) who destroyed the copper snake that Moshe had used in the desert because people were attributing powers to it and straying from Hashem. Although previous great removers of idolatry, Asa and Yehoshafat, had left it, the "Heavens left room for him to act with greatness." So too, said R. Yehuda, the Heavens left him room to uncover information that warranted changing the assumptions about Beit She’an.
The gemara concludes that from here we learn that if a talmid chacham says something surprisingly novel, we do not pressure him to retract it (Rashi, ad loc.). The gemara gives three similar-sounding options for the word used to be tolerant of the talmid chacham. One of them, mazichin is derived from our pasuk, "lo yizach," do not separate. At first glance, use of our pasuk is only technical/linguistic. However, there may be more to it.
How can we trust a rabbi to arrive at something that appears new? Isn’t Torah scholarship based on tradition, not innovation? The choshen (hamishpat) is named for its connection to expertise in the field of justice and is the base for the urim v’tumim, which reveals Divine secrets. The gemara may be hinting that in any generation, a true "secret" can be uncovered with Divine assistance. Even the discovery’s timing may be Divine. On the other hand, there is an important implied condition. It is forbidden to remove the choshen from the efod, which must be connected by a special string (Yoma 72a). As the efod served as atonement for idol worship (Zevachim 88b), it must work positively with the heart it covers to connect one to fear of Hashem. Similarly, a Torah innovator must be connected by a chain of tradition to the Torah and fear of Hashem, like R. Yehuda Hanasi. Then he is entitled to the benefit of the doubt that his ideas are not a break from a tradition but an addition of a link.
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.
