Ein Aya

Relating to That Which is Difficult to Believe

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 75

Rav Kook deals here with , the importance of studying history, even regarding thoughts or plans that were raised but not implemented. G-d runs the world on many levels and we shouldn't just relate to actions that came into fruition, but also thoughts, intentions and dreams. Children think that only that which you see is what exists, but today, sound waves, electric waves, antennas and even modern art show a more mature mankind that we are ready also to think more abstractly. This concept provides an innovative way of understanding various incidents mentioned in the Tanach, Talmud and Midrash, as well as aspects of emuna or faith that some may find difficult to believe or understand.

Tolerance but Not at All Costs

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 73

Rav Kook innovatively explains how did King Solomon even consider building alters for the idolatry of his wives?! He deals with the 2 ways of Kiruv: having the non-religious go "Cold-Turkey" to the extreme, totally severing all ties with their past; or alternatively: showing tolerance and gradually convincing them to see the good in their present life-style but to leave the bad and advance gradually. Rav Kook, although usually seeing the good in everything, & taking the gradual more tolerant approach, here shows the other side of the coin, & differentiates why regarding certain "red-lines" like idolatry, there is "zero tolerance".

The Solution to 'Risky' Intellectual Topics

Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 72

Parents, teachers and rabbis grapple with the issue of what to do with risky intellectual topics or controversial questions that sometimes can cause more harm than good! Rav Kook, as always, has some innovative suggestions on the topic, which are highly recommended and relevant for all parents and mechanchim, and also deal with the advantages and disadvantages of more "open" or "closed" education for our children, in the challenging generation of today.

What was King Solomon's Mistake? Truth must be 100% Clarified

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 71

Rav Kook deals with the basic difference between emotion (which sometimes must be overcome) as opposed to intellect and truth, which must always be clarified, for there is no such thing as 99% true! Accordingly, he suggests an innovative explanation as to what caused King Solomon to sin, and the great challenge in running a Jewish State.

Achdut- Uniting (Even!) the Opposites as THE Central Theme in Rav Kook

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 70

Both R. Moshe Tzvi Neria and Prof. Avinoam Rosenak have summarized the philosophy of Rav Kook in the term, "Uniting the Opposites", which is the ultimate in monotheism and unity. This very important class deals with this concept via Rav Kook's understanding of the unique role of the House of David, the splitting of the kingdoms of Judea and Israel, the benefits of galut, and the subsequent current gathering of the exiles, as well as the current rift in Israeli politics and how to achieve Achdut, unity

The Educational Punishment Necessitating the Splitting of Judea & Israel

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 69

Rav Kook ingeniously explains our sages who say the punishment of the splitting of the Davidic kindgom into Judea and Israel (the ten tribes), was an educational punishment for David's splitting Mephiboshet's estate, giving half to Tziva, his servant. As he often does, Rav Kook ties this in to "current events", and why it's necessary for us to have 2 Mashiachs (ben Yosef=secular Zionism, and ben David), even though the ideal is just Mashiach ben David. For more on the topic, see my class on "Who Exactly is Mashiach ben Yosef?".

Tzaddikim are not Infallible or Naive but Identify &Fight Evil

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 68

Rav Kook analyzes the difference between the temporary dynasty of King Saul (and his grandson Mephiboshet who wants to rule in place of King David, who may have been more righteous than David's family), and the eternal dynasty of David and why the Mashiach comes from that family. Rav Kook also innovatively explains here why the Mashiach (Messiah) is named for that one action of anointing, and the difference between doing so with an animal's horn, as opposed to Saul who was anointed with a vessel.

Purim- the Real Acceptance of Torah & Why the Costumes?!

Ayn Aya Shabbat ix, 69

Rav Kook explains the Talmud (Shabbat 88) that Purim, and not Mt. Sinai, was the real acceptance of the Torah, through an innovative explanation of Free Will. The class also suggests an innovative idea the customs of wearing costumes, eating Haman-Taschen & Kreplach & drinking wine on Purim, and how Am Yisrael never "really" sins, and G-d never "really" punishes.

Defense vs. Lashon HaRah

The Speaker, the Spoken & the Receiver via Rav Kook's New Account of Mephiboshet

Rav Kook analyzes the deeper problem of Lashon HaRa and how it changes a person to being more pessimistic and suspicious and other problematic character traits. On the other hand, kings and governments deal with issues where the stakes are so high, they must be suspicious and cautious, balancing it with optimism, morality etc. There are many ramifications here for the modern State of Israel. Rav Kook is at his innovative best suggesting several great new ways of looking at things and at understanding several stories regarding King David.

The Severity of Lashon Harah But It's (Surprising!) Necessity for Leaders

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 66

Rav Kook analyzes the deeper problem of Lashon HaRa and how it changes a person to being more pessimistic and suspicious and other problematic character traits. On the other hand, kings and governments deal with issues where the stakes are so high, they must be suspicious and cautious, balancing it with optimism, morality etc. There are many ramifications here for the modern State of Israel. Rav Kook is at his innovative best suggesting several great new ways of looking at things and at understanding several stories regarding King David.

Practical Tricks How Not to Accept Gossip by Giving the Benefit of the Doubt

Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 65

Rav Kook explains the Talmud which says that even if King David sinned by Uriah & BatSheva, he would not sin to accept gossip. This class deals with 21 concrete ideas on how to practically achieve that status that we automatically don't accept Lashon HaRah, by adopting the habit of giving the benefit of the doubt.

"Will Mashiach be More 'Dictator', 'President' or 'Prime Minister'?"

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 63

Rav Kook's innovative explanation of the Talmud regarding Uriah's sin in rebelling against King David, also consciously deals with his opinion regarding the type of government which Machiach is meant to lead, where he clearly will not be a dictator, but also not a prime minister. Rav Kook clearly agrees with his rebbe, the Netziv (Devarim 17, 14-15), who wrote that the form of government, whether democratic or a king, must be according to the popular will of the Jewish people. There are clearly ramifications as well regarding the modern democratic State of Israel which Rav Kook saw developing after the Balfour Declaration and founding of the nascent Knesset Yisrael.

Zionism Different than Other Patriotism

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 62

Rav Kook is often considered the spiritual father of religious Zionism. In this paragraph, his innovative explanation of King David, Bat-Sheva, Uriah HaChitti and the Amonite nation compares Zionism with other nationalism and patriotism of other nations.

Why the Wars & the Soldiers of Israel are Different

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 61

In this timely and especially important class, Rav Kook utilizes the gett (conditional divorce) which the House of David gave during war, to analyze why the soldies in the IDF and inevitably all Jewish soldiers, but especially religious Zionist chayalim fighting for Israel are altruistic and are able to rise above their natural instinct to survive for the eternal, moral, historic role of the Jewish Nation. The wars of Israel and the soldiers of Israel are inevitably different than the patriotism and nationalism found in other nations and wars who fight for more physical and temporary reasons.

Rav Kook on Rabbis & Leftists Who "Refuse to Serve" the IDF

(Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 60)

Rav Kook deals with the various opinions in the Talmud & rishonim of whether Uriah, the first husband of Batsheva, was deserving of death as a Mored b'Malchut (disobeying the king's authority). Rav Kook deals with the importance of the checks & balances which necessitate both a strong Jewish government and army, as well as a strong and moral Sanhedrin. He also deals with how every Jewish government, whether a king appointed by prophets, or judges (like Joshua, Gideon, the Maccabees, etc.) accepted by the people, or democratically elected governments all have a similar status regarding the obligation to respect and follow the law, and accordingly, both the "anti-Bibi" refusing pilots, as well as the Haredim who similarly don't follow the law of the land to serve in the IDF's milchamet mitzvah of self-defense, are severely sinning, especially during time of war, and at a time that the IDF is more than willing to meet all of the religious needs, in order to fill the present void of thousands of combat soldiers. They may even have the law of Mored b'Malchut!

Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 49

Sometimes the halacha apparently "needs" to be superseded by a greater cause. Judaism usually says that the ends doesn't justify the means, but Rav Kook discusses here when nevertheless it is allowed for rabbis to temporarily "sidestep" the halacha, and on what conditions it is warranted for rabbis to be more lenient than usual. Rav Kook reveals here some interesting autobiographical information, apparently regarding the Heter Mechira during Shemitta and when & why he allowed eating kitniyot oil and other controversial leniencies.

א, כו- "Punishments are a Natural Outcome of Wrong"

The Natural Process of Redemption is Even Better!

(Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 48)

For many reasons, contrary to popular belief, the natural process of redemption is, according to Rav Kook & the Maharal, is even better! The topic is connected with why the world was created via evolution and analyzing through examples why skipping stages in many aspects of life is counterproductive.

א, כה- "The Time & Place for Physical Beauty"

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud

א, כד- "Sometimes Poverty is an Advantage

א, לט- "Reaping the Benefits of Tefilin"

א, כב- "Evil Undoes Itself!"

א, כד- "Sometimes Poverty is an Advantage

א, כא- "Why Live in a New Yishuv?"

א, כ- "Tips for Educating Our Children"

Care in the Practical Details of Shabbat Brings the Recognition of Her Holiness

א, יז-

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud

א, טז- "A Small Recognition Leads to Great Things"

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud.

א, טו- " Benefits of Shabbat Observance"

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud.

א, יד- Thankfulness- The Basis of Torah

(part B) of Ayn Aya Shabbat I, 14

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud

א, יג- The Real Way to Shalom

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud.

א, יב- God Runs the World Via 'Necessity

עין איה א, ה

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud

א, ה- The Balance Between Awe & Love Depends on our Level

English Classes on Rav Kook

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud.

Improve the Present-U Can't Skip to the Future

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 46

The class deals with Rav Kook's way of presenting Kabbala rationally. It deals with the aspects of the revealed world (termed "Rachel") and the hidden world ("Leah"), and how the aspects of appreciating the present (happiness) interplays with the challenges with which life surprises us, giving us opportunities for constant free will to destine those challenges, and build a solid and beautiful future as well, as individuals and as a nation. Keeping one eye on the future doesn't contradict our living in the present.

The Physical & Spiritual Through Israel & the Gentiles

שבת, א, ג

Ayn Aya Rav Kook's Classic Commentary on the Aggadic Portions of the Talmud

4 Detractors of Z'chut Avot

The Talmud teaches that Z'chut Avot (the merits of our fore-fathers) can eventually run out, if Am Yisrael has too many "debits" or sins. Rav Kook analyzes the various opinions regarding the 4 points in Jewish history when the sages felt that Z'chut Avot finished, and how we manage since then.

Was Reuven Saved from Sinning

Rav Kook analyzes the various approaches in the Talmud regarding Reuven's sin with Bilha, and suggests an innovative explanation as to why the "ceremony" of the blessings & curses by Mount Gerizim and Mount Eval (upon entering the Land of Israel) adds to those mitzvot already commanded previously. (Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 45)

Rav Kook's Innovative Approach to the Sins of our Biblical Fathers.

Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 44

Rav Kook, as expected, has an innovative approach to the places in Tanach where it's written that our Biblical heroes sinned, but sometimes our sages say that it wasn't so. Just as different ages require different educational approaches, similarly it's anachronistic to think that the eternal Torah cannot be understood differently in different generations. The messages are eternal but how to leave those same impressions may vary depending on age and time period. The Torah speaks on various levels, and the Written Law and Oral Tradition work together on these different levels. Rav Kook deals here also with midrashim that aren't necessarily meant to be taken as factual. (Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 44)

Why They-re Called David ben Yishai - Mashiach ben David.

(Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 42)

Why are these 2 figures especially called by their fathers' names? This class deals with a very innovative explanation of an interesting and difficult midrash in Masechet Shabbat referring to the 4 who never sinned, especially Yishai, the father of King David. Also, Rav Kook deals here with the classic question, if the Davidic dynasty is so central to Judaism, why is it that through most of Jewish history it didn't function? Similarly, why is G-d's promise to David that his descendents will once again return to function?

The 4 Who Never Sinned

Rav Kook explains the Initial - Inevitable Flawlessness of Israel .

Rav Kook's innovative explanation of this puzzling gemara/midrash reveals new light on why these 4 character's never made any mistake, and just "died because of the sin of the snake, Adam & Eve. Rav Kook deals with the difference between the 1st line of heroes who all sinned, and those before and after them, who didn't. This classic class deals with leadership, as well as how the sources claim that Israel if flawless, even though we see our shortcomings! (Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 40)