Monday May 21, 2007

Ravitz's Quiet Revolution: Spiritual existence

Posted by Avraham Ravitz
Comments: 2
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In the following post, I wish to take a break from the daily issues that preoccupy us and focus on matters that lie on a higher plain, which are the secret of our existence as a people that celebrate its uniqueness in the festival of Shavuot – when the Torah was given to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai.

Almost all Jewish festivals mark historical events our people experienced, such as the exodus from Egypt or the strength of our survival as demonstrated in Hanukkah or Purim. The common denominator in all these festivals is that they are milestones in our survival and growth in the physical world.

Other nations or peoples also mark their independence or victories with such festivals, but what distinguishes the Jewish people from all other nations is the festival that marks the revelation at Mount Sinai and the acceptance of the Torah.

Shavuot is not a festival that celebrates the actual existence, but rather the essence, goal and path of existence – the spiritual content of the universe. It is a festival in which we accepted the Torah, whose goal is to connect between man’s material existence, between creator and creation, and between the people as a whole and G-d. It also signifies the way Israel views the entire human race by relaying moral and spiritual messages to it.

Of course, it is not enough simply to be part of the people who received the Torah, it is also necessary to constantly engage in amending our ways so that we would be worthy to be part of the people who received the Torah and pass it on to the next generations.

That is the special spiritual meaning of Shavout, when we engage in Tikun all night long.

I would like to take this opportunity and wish everyone a hag sameach.

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Comments:
1  |  rafael, Monday May 21, 2007
hag sameach to all of israel
2  |  jafree cohen, Tuesday May 22, 2007
god did not give the torah to the "jewish" people. he gave it to the "hebrew" people. judah was only 1 tribe out of 13. i am a cohen and am from the levi tribe, whose tribe was the first to recieve the torah. not judah. chag samaach

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Ravitz's Quiet Revolution UTJ MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz offers a glimpse of the arena from his own perspective.

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Recent Comments

Velvel silver spring:

Dear Rabbi, I recently read of rumors that you may join Olmert's government due to political concessions he would make regarding organ transplants, as well as a "gift" of additional millions of shekels for your Torah institutions, a gift which really amounts to a bribe, don't you think? I just want you to know, that regardless of what your smiling nodding Chareidi drones accept or don't accept from you, I am a Torah observant Jew and if you do that, you are selling out Israel and selling out Jews all over the world by taking this bribe. Hashem is supposed to provide our sustenance.

Adam:

You better learn to teach other Charedim to stand opposed soon because one day there won't be enough secular and traditional Israelis to aid the religious Zionists in the IDF to protect the lazy free-riding Jews in the Kollels. They may be broke, but at least they have Torah!

So now we have tons of impovrished Jews supported by donations and government money. Money which can go to better places to aid Klal Yisroel like kiruv, medical research and a LIVABLE WAGE for the small percentage of Jews who would be an asset for Yisroel to learn for a living.

Just as society benefits from the best and brightest teaching in universities and sharing their knowledge, Jewish society derives a similar benefit from the best and brightest learning in Yeshivas. Unfortunately, those that are actually that bright make up a tiny proportion of those who learn full time. It is a selfish act if one does not excel in learning Torah yet does so for a living. Those selfish Jews can be of better use to themselves, their families and Klal Yisroel with a job and to learn part time and build more Nahal Charedis.

Ravitz, you should be ashamed of yourself to suggest bringing the bane of Eretz Yisroel's existence even closer. They brought this on themselves and you want to bring them on us. I guess its easy for you to say something so suicidal as the majority of your supporters have no idea what it is like to pick up a gun and protect Jews.

Dan Friedman:

They say war is too important to be left to the generals. How much more so rabbis?

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