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When I was a child in my parents’ home in Chicago we lived in an apartment building where there was absolutely no possibility of erecting a succah within its precincts. I trudged with my father to the large succah that the yeshiva had built in our neighborhood. I missed having my mother at the table and the food was always cold by the time we arrived at the succah. I always wondered then why my father was nevertheless so serene and happy sitting in that large yeshiva succah surrounded by strangers and eating cold food. I made a child’s commitment to myself that when I grew up I would have my own succah. A few years after my marriage I was able to purchase a home with a back yard where I happily began to build a succah. My Jewish neighbor promptly reported me to the building department of the city of Chicago for building a structure without a building permit. Next day I went to the building department and obtained such a permit which I prominently displayed. My neighbor shouted at me that "all of this nonsense is a nuisance to him." I coolly invited him to come over and share a meal with us in the succah. He sputtered and left and never spoke to me again. That incident only fortified my resolve that come what may I would always attempt to have my own succah on Succot. The Lord has heard my request and I have had my own succah to enjoy and revel in for over fifty years consecutively. May it so continue in the future as well.
Succot concludes with the especially joyous day of Simchat Torah. Perhaps no other day of the year characterizes the relationship of the Jewish people to its Torah as does the day of Simchat Torah. Young and old, scholar and novice, the strictly observant and those who are less so are nevertheless united on this one day of rejoicing in the uniqueness of Israel that the Torah has created. The day confirms the opinion of Rabeinu Saadyah Gaon (ninth century Babylonia) that our nation is a united people only by virtue of our Torah. The virtue of Torah is that it gives our life a focus and a moral compass. It promises a future and immortality itself. It binds together disparate ethnic groups and bridges time and generations. No wonder therefore that Jews rejoice with it and are raised to the level of inner joy that requires no outside stimulus. Simchat Torah is not only the culmination of the holiday of Succot, it is the final summation of the months of Elul and Tishrei that preceded it. It is the counterpoint to our days of solemnity and gives clear meaning and purpose to our times of joy. How fortunate are we to have such a treasure that is accessible to all and eternal in its meaning and message. May the joy of the holiday accompany us throughout this new year.
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
