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It turned out, though, that the philosophers were unable to answer his questions. Philosophy knows how to refute religious idolatry; the refined intellect rejects attributing any sort of corporeality to God. Philosophy understands that God is beyond all limits, infinite. Human intellect is capable of reaching this conclusion on its own. Man's mind, though, is limited in that it cannot grasp intellectually any sort of relationship between an infinite God and a finite universe. Reason dictates that anything that is connected to the existence of our limited physical world must itself be limited in some sense. The intellect cannot comprehend a God Who commands His creatures, for, how is it possible to speak of God as desiring? If we assume that God desires our performance of His commandments, we must assume that He is lacking in some way. God, though, is by definition perfect; how can we possibly attribute to Him desire? This is the dilemma that faces the philosopher. How can we possibly ascribe to a sublime and infinite God any kind of relationship to our finite world? The human intellect cannot grasp this. This is its limitation.
The advantage of human intellect, then, is that it discards the possibility of ascribing any notion of corporeality to God; its disadvantage is that it cannot comprehend the connection between God and the world, between the Creator and His creation.
The Khazar king, who is driven by an inner voice to search for a way of life that is desirable in the eyes of God, who is visited each night by a heavenly messenger and told, "Your intentions are desirable in the eyes of God, but your deeds are not," - he understands that it is inconceivable that man remain without divine instruction. He understands that man needs God to tell him how to live and how to behave, what is desirable and what not. The king sees that human intellect - the philosophers - are unable to fulfill his request. What he is searching for is to be found with the men of religion. The Khazar king has become convinced already by the philosopher that religious idolatry is a lie, and that he must seek out the sort of men of religion who do not ascribe corporeality to God. He therefore turns to Christianity and Islam. He believes that since these religions have gained such wide spread acceptance, it is reasonable to assume that one of them is correct. Yet, he discovers that both Christianity and Islam believe in the Bible of the Jews, and that this holy book serves as the foundation of both faiths. Each claim to be the authentic continuation of the Jewish tradition.
Once the Khazar king becomes aware that both Islam and Christianity rest upon Judaism, he decides that he must turn to one of the Jewish sages and learn about this religion. This, then, will be the focus of our next discussion.
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
3 - 3. Good Intentions, Good Deeds
4 - 4. Faith and Reason
5 - 5. Historical Proof
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
