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Cheshvan 9 5781 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
Zionism- The Gate to Altruism, Humility, Godliness & Geula
Many wonder why the redemption began with Zionism & nationalism rather than with "observing 1 Shabbat"? Rav Kook explain that humility is the most important trait, see Moshe Rabbenu and all the mussar classics. Similarly, altruism- selfless giving, is the reason for creation, that even God wants to be altruistic, although this doesn't infer that He lacks anything, for altruism is, by definition, giving without gain. The national framework of living in a Jewish State where everyone is Jewish, sacrificing 3 years in the army & even one's life if needed, obligated chessed to each & every person, saving water, giving "tremps" to eachother, etc. help us rise above our personal smallness to a life of ideals & constant giving, altruism= Godliness.
Ways of Redemption
28 min
Cheshvan 9 5781 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
The Seudah of a Bris
Brit Mila Lech Lecha
Cheshvan 8 5781 | Rabbi Ephraim Schreibman
Daf Yomi - Eruvin 78
Eruvin
40 min
Cheshvan 8 5781 | Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Based on ruling 75040 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts Kippot Under What Conditions?
P'ninat Mishpat
Cheshvan 8 5781 | Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Based on Ein Ayah, Shabbat 13:8-9 The Crucial Importance of Appreciating Wisdom
Ein Ayah

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Rabbi Avraham (Abe) Abrahami
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The parallelism between the ten trials of Avraham Avinu and other important tens.
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5770 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
How Does a Heter Iska Work?
What is the prohibition of "Ribbit"? who does it apply on? How does the "Heter Iska" bypass the prohibition? and more...
Basics of Financial Laws
5762 | Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
47. The “Hassid” - The Ideal Jew
A 'Hassid' is the quintessential Jew. His heart is filled with faith in God. He constantly senses God's closeness, as if God were standing before him. He believes that God knows all, hidden thoughts, feelings of the heart - all is revealed to God.
Foundations of Faith
5772 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
Chalav Yisrael and Powdered Milk
"Friends of ours keep chalav Yisrael, but they will use foods made with non-chalav Yisrael powdered milk. But I know from my professional research that one can purchase powdered mare's (female horses) and camel's milk – they are specialty products that command a very high premium. So why is there any difference between using non-chalav Yisrael powdered milk, and non-chalav Yisrael fluid milk?"
Additional Lessons
5775 | Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
Chapter nine-part one Birkot HaShachar – The Morning Blessings
Prayer Morning Brachot

Beit Midrash Jewish Laws and Thoughts Jewish Thought

Subjects of Jewish Thougts

Elul 24 5780 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
So What’s the Goal of Life?!!
We all know that if you don't have a goal, you can't score! We all have many goals, but is there one which encompasses and is the common denominator of them all? Such a definition will prevent us from feeling torn between the many goals and roles we have. One theory is that the goal of life is pleasure, which is the common denominator of all people. On the other hand, all those people also have an ideal for which they are willing to forego all of their pleasure, inferring that ideals supersede pleasure! The class suggests that these 2 theories are 1 and the same, for we all want pleasure, but ideals are not 3rd class (short-term) pleasure, nor 2nd class (long-term) pleasure, but rather 1st class, eternal pleasure.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts Additional Lessons
33 min
Nissan 26 5780 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
Appreciating the Minutiae and Ideals of Rabbinic Mitzvot Why Did the Rabbis Add So Many Mitzvot?
Rav Kook deals with the classic questions asked by any thinking practicing Jew: Why did the rabbis institute so many additional rabbinic laws, which pre-occupy us day and night? Did the Torah not command us enough obligations and restrictions?! In this famous article from Orot called "Chacham Adif miNavi", Rav Kook suggests a totally innovative approach to appreciating the minutiae and ideals of Rabbinic Mitzvot, enlightening and motivating us in their observance.
Rav Kook books Subjects of Jewish Thougts
58 min
Nissan 5 5780 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
About Heaven- Hell- Revival of the Dead- Reincarnation What Happens After We Die?
Why aren't heaven and hell more discussed in the Torah? How can we really believe in Olam Haba if we don' have proof that it exists? Why do we want Techiyat Hametim to happen if Olam Haba is so amazing? Who goes to heaven and who doesn't?
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
45 min
Tamuz 26 5772 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter A Paragraph 82 Nature and Nurture And Our Free Will
Genetics, surroundings, experience all contribute to our personality, as well as our spouse's and children's. Nevertheless it all is decided by our destining our fate through decisions.
Ein Aya Subjects of Jewish Thougts
36 min
5771 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
Introduction to Orot HaTshuva The Nature of Evolution and Improvement
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
47 min
Rabbi Dov Berl Wein
How to add more inspiration to our soul More Soulful
In Jewish tradition the house of worship, of prayer, was meant to be a soulful place. It was not meant to be a place of entertainment or even of the mere fulfillment of a religious obligation.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts Prayer
Rabbi Chaim Eisen
Satan and Existence
Does God create only positive things? Is the night an existence or absence of light and what about the devil?
Subjects of Jewish Thougts Balak
60 min
Rabbi Dov Berl Wein
Common sense
The reason that common sense is so often ignored is that it usually leaves one with a painful decision to make. Human nature abhors having to make painful decisions. Hence, common sense is relegated to one’s subconscious and reappears as regret and attempted repentance.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
Shvat 5773 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
part I The Importance of the State of Israel in the Writings of Rabbi A.I. Kook
Why did G-d create Am Yisrael as a nation and not just a religion? Why, in addition to the mitzvot between individual Jews, and between man and G-d, does the Torah call for a framework of a national land, army, political system, and even coin?
The Torah Perspective Subjects of Jewish Thougts
Shvat 5773 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
part II The Importance of the State of Israel in the Writings of Rabbi A.I. Kook
In the previous part, we asked Why did G-d create an Jewish nation in its own land and not just a religion? We brought two reasons from Rav Kook's writings: an established nation can influence the rest of the nations and So that all should know, that not only outstanding individual can live in the light of G-d, but even entire nations can. In this part, we will see three more ideas to answer our question.
The Torah Perspective Subjects of Jewish Thougts
Shvat 5773 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
Renaming the Movement to "Religious - Zionist - Humanist" What Would Rav Kook Say Today?
If we claim that zionism is an integral part of religion or Torah, then why originate a new slogan ‘religious-zionism’, in place of the age-old title ‘religion’ or ‘Torah’? If there is a reason for the new slogan, is there a need for renaming it - "Religious - Zionist - Humanist”?
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
5772 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
Grave Issues about Graven Images
Is it prohibited to look at articles that merely represent the actual idol, even though they are not themselves worshipped (icons), or is the prohibition limited to idols that are themselves worshipped?
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
5769 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
Rav Kook, Musar Hakodesh Why Must I be Religious to be a Moral Person? - Part I
Rav Kook supports secular morality, in that the conscience and logic stem from the same Creator that wrote the Torah. Nevertheless, he stresses the clear advantages of Mussar HaKodesh, or morality based on religion, for several important reasons.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
33 min
5769 | Rabbi Ari Shvat
Rav Kookm, Musar Hakodesh Why Must I be Religious to be a Moral Person? - Part II
Additional reasons why secular morality isn't enough.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
43 min
5770 | Rabbi Chanan Morrison
The Age of the Universe
Subjects of Jewish Thougts Noach
Kislev 5768 | Rabbi Dov Berl Wein
Writing under influence of Shabbat
What is the basic obligation and purpose of living? Why are we here and what are we supposed to do with our existence on earth?
Subjects of Jewish Thougts Additional Lessons
Iyar 5767 | Rabbi Michael Herskowitzs
No Insignificant Concept in the World
It is a mistake to seek to confine Judaism's inner spirit and spiritual content to particular definitions. Its soul contains everything; all spiritual tendencies, revealed and hidden, are concealed in it, as everything is contained in the Absolute.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
5765 | Rabbi Ze'ev Sultanowitz
A Jewish Look at Christian Beginnings
Paul advances the idea of preferring an organization, a sect, a particular ideology to the natural framework of family, land, nation, and language. Henceforth, he who joins this movement will be redeemed; non-members are doomed to eternal perdition.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
Rabbi Uzi Kalchaim zt"l
On Creation's Beauty
Rav rules that “it is forbidden to say, 'How beautiful is that idolatress!'” However, the Talmud raises a difficulty: Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel “saw a heathen woman who was particularly beautiful, and exclaimed, 'How great are Thy works, O Lord!'”
Subjects of Jewish Thougts
5765 | Rabbi S. Yossef Weitzen
“It Will Not Come to Pass”
The concept of a “false prophet” only applies to prophecy. The greatness of a Torah scholar does not depend on his ability to predict the future. It depends upon his greatness in Torah, his exemplary character traits, and his devotion to God.
Subjects of Jewish Thougts Gush Katif