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Beit Midrash
- Family and Society
- A Nation and its Halachot
- Leadership
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Serving Hashem, Mitzvot and Repentance
Two incidents that were in the news last week highlight this sore problem. A supermarket chain intends to be open on a 24/7 basis thus apparently violating the status quo arrangements regarding the public observance of Shabat. This company also owns a chain of supermarkets that caters to the Charedi religious community. In order to pressure the company to rescind its new 24/7 policy, some of the Charedi leaders (mostly self-proclaimed ones at that) have proclaimed a boycott of the chain that sells to the Charedi public. Boycotts and bans are the usual weapons employed by these leaders even though experience should have shown them that by the end of the day these tactics are woefully ineffective and usually counterproductive. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the company’s breach of the status quo, of defining "democratic" in terms of its perceived economic benefit allowed it to ignore completely the "Jewish" aspect of Israel. It was irresponsible on its part to succumb to greed at the expense of community comity. It was also terribly insensitive to the Jewish nature of the state and continues a pattern of wider and wider public Shabat desecration in all areas of Israeli life. To somehow believe that the "Jewish" character of the state can succesfully be preserved, let alone enhanced, by destroying the public Shabat in Israel is malicious folly. I doubt if the boycott tactic will work - perversely, I hope it does - but this is a battle that religious Jews have to join and wage, not only for our sake but for the future of the State of Israel itself.
The second incident was the ruling by an Israeli court that chametz may be sold on Pesach by Jewish stores and restaurants. Again this is a clear breach of the status quo and even of local laws that forbid this practice. The group that brought the suit is against religious coercion. But they do not understand that every society has coercion in one way or another. Otherwise pure anarchy reigns. The laws that coerce are those that form the consensus basis of the society itself. Pesach and chametz have a long history amongst Jews - longer than the existence of the State of Israel and modern progressivism. Disregarding this history and the sensitivity of the vast majority of Israelis in this matter only confirms that as far as Israeli courts are concerned "Jewish" really doesn’t exist in the face of perceived "democratic." The prophet Yechezkel records for us that long ago Jews proclaimed that they were just like other nations -"democratic" to the core. God’s response was that He would not allow that to happen - that anti-Semitism and the hostility of nations would coerce (there is that word again) the Jewish nation to remain "Jewish." Perhaps we are seeing a replay of this scenario again in our state. God apparently prefers "Jewish" to "democratic" if somehow the two must necessarily clash. A little common sense, sensitivity to others, a feeling of altruism and good will - all of which are unfortunately in short supply in many sectors of our society - would go a long way in making the State of Israel a truly Jewish democratic state
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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.
