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Rashi explains that once the practice of worship with a single standing stone (matzevah) was taken over by idol worshippers it became unfit for use by Israel even in the service of the one God. An additional explanation is offered by Rav S.R. Hirsch. He points out that changing attitudes towards a matzevah versus a mizbeach may have been a function of the historical period involved. Clearly, the era of the avot, constitutes the formative period of the nation of Israel, the inspired story of the development of the larger than life individuals who were not only our biological forbears but their composite personalities, the result of the many trials and challenges they experienced, represented the potential of every Jew since. In their day, the overall goal was to develop the individual personality in terms of its relationships within the family as well as its relations to outsiders and above all to God. Therefore to worship God by bringing libations on a
single standing stone was deemed quite appropriate as it symbolized the goal of that period, to develop the single perfected individual who stands in humble and obedient service to God.
After the Exodus, however, when the Bnai Yisroel had developed into a nation the appropriate platform for offerings to God becomes the mizbeach, an altar made of many stones. No longer is the perfection of the individual the highest goal, but rather the development of the collective, the nation, the amalgam of different personalities subordinating their individual interest for the common good, orchestrating their different talents to serve the needs of the people. This is graphically symbolized by the mizbeach whose basic structure depends entirely upon the cooperation of the individual components.
There is an important lesson here particularly for those of us still living in the Diaspora where one s highest goal as a Jew seems to be the production of the most learned and pious individual possible. The end goal of all of the many institutions we build and maintain in the Diaspora is precisely that and that alone for these collectives as such are partial and temporary. After 60 years of the restored Jewish State in Eretz Yisroel it should be clear that the matzevah, the single great one no longer represents Judaism s highest goal. Rather the challenge of our time is to build a sovereign Jewish collective that could truly be a light to the nations . The only appropriate form of worship today is the mizbeach, for each individual Jew to become part of the great miracle unfolding in our day. You wish your son to become the next godol hadar? By all means. But do it within the context of the new Jewish reality, while living in Israel.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
