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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After 60 years of the restored Jewish State in Eretz Yisroel it should be clear that the matzevah, the single great one no longer represents Judaism s highest goal.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.
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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.