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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
R. Meir b"r Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld
The expectation of the arrival of the Messiah does not imply standing around doing nothing, waiting for the Messiah to come and solve all of our problems. The words, "I will wait daily for his coming" imply making oneself ready for his coming, as it says in the verse, "Let your garments be always white..." (Ecclesiastics 9:8). Waiting for the Messiah means being clean of transgressions and full of Mitzvoth. It means being prepared psychologically for the arrival of the Redeemer. This is necessary because when he arrives "a new light will shine upon Zion." We are thus called upon to broaden both our physical and spiritual capacities; to be open to receiving this great divine outpouring; to prepare large enough vessels to receive the light.
This foundation of faith, which calls upon us to wait for the coming of the Messiah each day, is not easy to maintain. It requires of us to endure a lofty spiritual strain, to wait, each day, in fixed expectation and psychological readiness for earth shattering events. This is not so simple. One might compare such stress to that of a candidate for an important position as Election Day approaches. Will he win and ascend to greatness, or lose everything that he invested in order to attain that position? Similarly, we might compare the one who waits for the Messiah to a person who has participated in a grand lottery. He sits, engulfed in tension, waiting to hear the outcome of the lottery - an outcome which is liable to change his way of life completely. It is impossible to hold up under such pressure for an extended period time.
Yet, here we are called upon to maintain a high level of readiness and constant expectation for the arrival of redemption, a change that - according to the majority of sages - will alter our entire way of life completely. If we have been called upon to behave so, then the Almighty must have provided us with the great mental capacities needed to deal with such a demand:
On the one hand, we must be ready for the appearance of the redemption, and this could happen at any moment, as at says, "Behold, I send my messenger and he will clear the way before me, and the Lord who you seek shall suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, who you delight in, behold, he shall come, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 3) Such was the nature of the redemption from Egypt, and such was the miracle of Purim.
On the other hand, we must be prepared for the delayed arrival of the Messiah, so that his tarrying does not result in despair and crisis. We must acknowledge the fact that though anything is possible, all that the Almighty does is for the best. And even if we have to wait indefinitely, this too is for the best.
The anticipation of the arrival of the Messiah calls upon us to develop enormous inner faculties, and drives us forward in continuous daily progress. The actions of one who anticipates the coming of the Messiah and works toward this end by participating in the development of the Land of Israel and the People of Israel; the actions of one who strengthens the spirit of the nation by comforting the estranged - his actions grow and ascend up to the highest of heights. He and his portion are blessed.
May we merit that we live and see and inherit goodness and blessing in the years of the messianic times and the life of the World to Come.
Repentance Why Ba'alei T'shuva Davka Shouldn't Become Anti-Zionists!
Rav Kook's Letter on Teshuva to Rav Charlap
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
