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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Refael Ben Yosef
Pious behavior can be misleading. Though a certain act may appear virtuous at first glance, a paradigm of pious behavior, its ramifications may in fact be very undesirable.
For example, Gedaliah ben Achikam was invested with the responsibility of ruling over what remained of the Jewish community in the Land of Israel at the end of the Second Temple period. When people came and told him that Yishmael ben Netanya was scheming to assassinate him, Gedaliah refused to believe them because of his enormous piety. He would not listen to slander.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
1 - 1. The Quality of "Zehirut" - that Man Contemplate His Actions
2 - 2. Introspection
3 - 3. "Zehirut"- Inhibiting and Contributing Factors
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The Maharal, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, says that a person can only succeed in attaining the correct measure of piety if he possesses the following three traits:
a. that his heart be as pure as possible, that his one desire be to bring pleasure to God.
b. that he examine his deeds carefully and try to perfect them accordingly.
c. that he place his trust in God, for by doing this he merits divine assistance, as it is written, "Happy is the man whose strength is in You . . . Goodness will not be lacking for those who walk in purity." (Psalms 84:6, 12).
If one of these three conditions is missing a person will not attain perfection, and he is likely to stumble and fall. If a person's intentions are not pure, or if a person is derelict about examining his deeds and their ramifications, or if he fails to place his trust in his Creator, he will find it difficult to avoid falling.
But if a person harbors pure intentions, carefully examines his behavior, and trusts in God, he will be able to follow the true path and no evil will befall him. This idea was expressed by the prophetess Hannah when she said "He protects the feet of his pious." King David likewise said, "And He will not forsake his pious ones; they will forever be protected" (Psalms 37:28).
Hence, one must weigh the ramifications of every act. It was to this that R' Yochanan was referring when he said, "The humility of R' Zechariah destroyed our Temple, consumed our Sanctuary, and exiled us among the nations." This is what happened: Bar Kamtza went to the Roman authorities and spoke slanderously against the Jews claiming that they did not accept Roman rule. This could be proven, said Bar Kamtza, by sending an animal sacrifice as an offering to the Holy Temple. The Jews, he said, would refuse to offer it up.
So they sent an offering with bar Kamtza and he blemished the animal so that it be rendered unacceptable as a sacrifice according to Jewish law, yet acceptable in the eyes of the Romans. "The Rabbis thought to sacrifice the animal. R' Zechariah ben Avkulos said to them, 'People will say that animals with imperfections may be sacrificed upon the altar.' The Rabbis thought to kill him [Bar Kamtza]. R' Zachariah ben Avkulos said to them, 'They will say that one who causes an imperfection in sacrificial animals should be killed.' While all this was going on, the evildoer slandered the Jews to the emperor, who came and destroyed Jerusalem."
In sum, improper piety, piety which fails to take repercussions into account, is neither virtue nor piety. True piety calls for a scrupulous examination of one's deeds and their ramifications in addition to pure intentions.
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Some of the above article was taken from Feldheim's translation of The Path of the Just.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.