YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Jewish Thought
- Foundations of Faith
The Torah study is dedicatedto the full recovery of
Asher Ishaayahu Ben Rivka
Yet, despite the king's adamancy in fulfilling the commandments of the Khazarian religion, the heavenly messenger returns to him each night, saying, "Your intentions are desirable, but your actions are not."
All of this causes the king to search and investigate other faiths and philosophies. Eventually he converts to Judaism and with him a large number of his people, the Khazarians.
The question, "What is desirable action?" is a question which every individual asks himself. Each of us harbors good intentions. Each one of us possesses a desire to be upright. The question is, how? How do we realize these good intentions? How do we materialize our great aspirations?
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
2 - 2. Belief in God: Eyewitness Account
3 - 3. Good Intentions, Good Deeds
4 - 4. Faith and Reason
Load More
Good intention alone is not enough! If one does not know how to perform the proper deeds, it is possible, despite all good intentions, to cause great damage. Even in the course pursuing good, it is possible to perform appalling deeds. For example, all idol worship is carried out with pure intention. The intentions are good, but the actions are the opposite of the intentions.
Good intentions, then, are not enough. The deeds must also be desirable. Indeed, one who wishes to perform deeds which will find favor in God's eyes understands that he himself, following his own human intellect and emotion, is not able to discover what the desirable actions are in God's eyes. God's ways are entirely different than our ways, and his thoughts are far above our thoughts. Without divine guidance and direction, one cannot know how to serve God. One cannot hope to know what those actions are that are desirable in His eyes. Therefore, the Khazar king began to search and investigate, with the hope of finding somebody who would be able to show him the deeds that are desirable before God.
Initially he went to a philosopher. He figured that of all people the philosopher must certainly be familiar with what it is that God wants of His creatures. Yet, the philosopher was not able to provide the king with answer to his question. An inner voice - an angel - had told the king to search for the desired action, and the philosopher was not able to aid him in his search. Philosophical speculation is very interesting, yet it does not recognize that there are some actions that are more desirable in the God's eyes than others. The deep inner feeling of the Khazar king told him that the philosopher's intellectual faculty was not strong enough to grasp something beyond reason. It therefore became necessary for him to tun to the bearers of God's word in the world. This, then, will be the focus of our next discussion.
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
