21 Lessons
Coping with Difficulties Rav Kook on Why Are There So Many Wars in the Process of Geula
Appreciating the Altruism of the IDF
The young State of Israel has seen so many wars, and the question is: We would have thought that the redemptive process of Y'mot HaMashiach would include gradually having more and more peace! We shouldn't be surprised because the prophets teach us that Milchamot Gog u'Magog, where the nations try and take away the Land of Israel, is part of the plan, but why? Rav Kook relates to the Godly altruism and unity which inevitably are part of war, not only on the battle field but where all Jews especially help each other, more than usual. The class deals with the innocent and righteous who are killed in war, and the special status of the non-religious soldiers in their especially unique altruism.
Coping with Difficulties The Right Perspective
Our eyes, our point of view, our leaders in believing. A Holocaust survivor's choice of faith, story of Rabbi Akiva and the foxes, the different meanings of the words for seeing in Hebrew, using Shabbat as the time to gain perspective.
Coping with Difficulties Our Direction After Gush Katif and Amona
Our opinion is that we need to express our pain in the staunchest way possible. We need to express our difficulty in accepting a decree which goes against the Torah and which undermines the commandment to settlement the land of Israel.
Coping with Difficulties Setting Out on a New Path
The destruction of the settlements, the cruel expulsion of the settlers, the suppression of those who demonstrated against the state and the government - these matters have taught us that the working-from-within approach is destined to fail.
The Laws of Three Weeks On Memory and Disengagement
One disengagement leads to another, and those who disengage themselves from the past cannot bring us to our true future. Perhaps they can bring us to a Swedish or Luxembourgian version of the future, but not to the real destiny of the Jewish people.
Coping with Difficulties The Torah on “Unilateral Disengagement”
There could be almost no greater desecration of God’s Name than relinquishing portions of the land of Israel. The entire world would be made aware that God’s children agreed to give away the land which God Himself gave them as an eternal possession.
Lessons for the 10th of Tevet The Tenth of Tevet
In the past few years, nations have come upon us and demanded that we relinquish portions of the Land of Israel to strangers. This is one of the calamities concerning which we are supposed to fast and cry out to God about.
Coping with Difficulties Settling Eretz Yisrael
: Sometimes an act which results in severe short-term damage, serves the important role of making a clear statement concerning the importance of settling the Land, and impresses upon all the preference of Divine law over transient political rulings.
Redemption - Geula To The Outpost Settlers: "Thank You"
Today's settlers have infused the entire nation with strength. They are the great victors in the present battle against terrorism. The Jewish people ought to express gratitude to these people and say, "Thank you."
Coping with Difficulties What Can We Do?
Every affliction that God brings upon us is meant to uplift us to a higher level. True, it is difficult to sense this - but it nonetheless exists. We must therefore respond to every setback with additional growth and development - another neighborhood, another hilltop, more houses, more determination.
