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The Rambam writes: "This tevilla done to utensils of meals that are obtained from a non-Jew and afterward they become permitted for eating and drinking is not related to purity and impurity but is from the Rabbis, and it is hinted in, ‘Whatever goes into fire...’" (Maachalot Assurot 17:5). A few halachot later, he writes: "There are other things that the Sages forbade, even though there is no source in the Torah, in order to distance oneself from non-Jews before one mixes in with them and come to intermarriage, and these are them: not to drink with them even when one does not have to fear wine used in idol worship, and they forbade eating their bread and their cooked foods even when one does not have to fear that they come from pots that have absorbed non-kosher" (ibid.:9).
According to the Rambam, the requirement of tevillat keilim is also to battle assimilation. Most Rishonim see tevillat keilim as a mitzva from the Torah but one that teaches the concept of not allowing relationships between Jews and non-Jews to deepen. By restricting eating and drinking with non-Jews and even with related utensils, the danger of the setting of joint eating is lessened. This served as a model for a slew of rabbinic initiatives that are intended to curb assimilation. We will mention a few.
1) Eiruv chatzerot - Even within fenced-in areas, we must "rent non-Jews’ domain" before being able to carry there. This process was intended to make joint living quarters with them more difficult. 2) One may not eat bread that was baked in a non-Jew’s home irrespective of kashrut issues. 3) One may not eat important foods cooked by a non-Jew. 4) One may not drink wine along with non-Jews irrespective of kashrut problems. 5) The Rabbis tried (unsuccessfully) to forbid use of non-Jews’ oil.
This partial list demonstrates the Rabbis’ great fears of intermarriage/assimilation, which endanger the Jewish nation’s survival. Nowadays assimilation is eating into huge parts of our people, reaching 90% in some places. Our survival after millennia of exile is a historically unprecedented open miracle. Our parasha teaches us that while we have to thank Hashem for the miracle, we also have to take our own concrete steps, with our Rabbis’ laws’ help, to stem the tide of assimilation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
