INSIGHT 5781 - #03: SUCCAT DOVID HA’NOFELET

For  Succot

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INSIGHT 5779 - #03: Kohelet

For Succot
 
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Insight 5779-02: Succat Dovid

For Succot
 
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1) Further on the words of Maharal, in regard to the Jewish monarchy, it it important to recognize that the prime function of the king was to protect the workings of the society, namely, for example, to fight the necessary wars and/or maintain, law and order. It is, as such, important for the Jewish king, in regard to these secular functions, to also reflect strength and permanence, It is within this Divine task for the Jewish monarchy that we do, indeed, refer to the Davidic dynasty as the House of David. It is, though, further important for us to recognize that this is still indeed part of its Divine task -- it is the Divine that demands this involvement in the secular. 

At the same time, though, we must also recognize that the Jewish monarchy's role is also intended to extend into the religious realm. It was still the project of the monarchy -- in specific terms, the dream of Dovid HaMelech finally brought to fruition by, his son, Shlomo HaMelech -- to build the Beit HaMikdash. It is in this recognition of the Jewish monarchy's purpose beyond the secular that we refer to the Davidic dynasty as Succat Dovid.


2) Further on the words of Malbim, it is interesting to note that his perception that the coming of the Mashiach will occur in an incremental manner would be in line with -- although not necessarily in specifics -- the modern perspective of Messianic Zionism as presented by such individuals as the Raya Kuk. Rav Kuk's argument that the return of the Jewish People to Israel, even as spearheaded by the non-religious, was the beginning of the Redemption, also reflected an idea that the coming of the Mashiach would be in an incremental fashion although, obviously, not similar to Malbim's perspective of this incremental process.  

Insight 57 78-03: LIVING IN THE SUCCAH

For Sukkot
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Insight 5777-03: POETRY, SENSITIVITY AND GRACE

For Ha'azinu, Succot  
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Insight 5776-03: UNIVERSAL AND NATIONAL

For Ha'azinu and Succot
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Study Question

1) The question still exists as to why the Jewish People should have this distinct parental relationship with God.

2) In regard to modern history, we may ask: how would Rav Yaakov understand such acts as the Balfour Declaration? On the other hand, what of much of the world’s present attitude towards Israel? Does the kindness towards the Jewish People that perhaps did exist still exist? Rav Yaakov could contend that the Messianic redemption is still not completed. There, unfortunately, may still be time to despair (although, I believe, that most would say chas v'shalom to this). It should be noted, as well, that those who maintain that the redemption will emerge through natural means -- which, they argue, we are witnessing -- also do not contend that these acts are not possibly the direct acts of God. They point to the fact that Stalin and the Soviet Union voted for the creation of Israel; does that in itself not show God’s direct, and miraculous, intervention? 

Insight 5775-03: The Universal Ethic of Succot

For Succot
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Study Question

1)

Insight 5774-03: Ushpizin

For Succot
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Study Question

1)It may be interesting to investigate such verses as Vaykra 23:43 -- is the succah to remind us of the Exodus or of the sojourn in the desert?

Insight 5773-03: Giving Up

For Ha'azinu

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Insight 5772-03: The Value of Nations

For Succot

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Insight 5761-02: The Renewal Of Autumn

For Succot.

Available on the Nishma website