Rabbi Ari Shvat
Rav Kook's Torah, religious Zionism, the Land of Israel & Original Songs
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MAMDANI TO RAIN TO LECH-L’CHA
For someone who grew up in NYC with some 30 years of obviously Jewish mayors like Abe Beame, Ed Koch and…
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IDF LOWERS OBSERVANCE? Parshat Noach
Q. My son is serving as a paratrooper and has been ‘traveling’ around (Gaza, Lebanon, Syria) in a very tough, meaningful,…
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WHERE LIFE IS SACRED, the DEAD are TOO!
Statistically, most Americans today are cremated after death, and accordingly, they find it difficult to understand why Israel makes such a…
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SIGNS FROM GOD?
Q. I want to be a professional basketball player but I dont know if thats the path G-d chose for me.…
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OPPOSITES: THE OTHER HALF OF TRUTH”- on Freeing the Hostages and Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot
Israel is faced today with the paradox of, on the one hand totally (!) rejoicing with the (bezH!) returning hostages and…
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“TREE TASTES LIKE THE FRUIT”- Sukkot/Etrog as a Microcosm of Eretz Yisrael
Rav Kook points out (Orot HaTeshuva 6, 7) that just as most of the tree is roots, trunk, branches and leaves,…
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THIS YEAR’S YOM KIPPUR- Prayers for All Israel
Q. Yom Kippur of today is a day of heartfelt tefillot, familiar haunting melodies, the congregation and the shul itself all…
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Eating Special Simanim on Rosh HaShana
Q. The Gemarahs in Keritut and Horayot list five items that Abaye says one should eat (or see) on Rosh Hashanah.…
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CHALLENGES ARE A GIFT!
We read in parshat Ki Tavo about the annual reciting of “Mikra Bikkurim” in the Beit HaMikdash upon the new fruits,…
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FALSE MORALITY IS IMMORALITY”- Why R. Blau and American Jewish Liberals’ Critique Misses the Mark
This week’s parsha especially commands caring for the sanctity of the Israeli Army Bases (of yesterday and today!): “For the Lord,…