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Beit Midrash
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- Ein Ayah
One bends his knees at the word "baruch." He straightens his body at the mention of His Name, as it is says: "Hashem makes the bent-over erect" (Tehillim 146:8).
Ein Ayah: The path to shleimut (completeness) requires one to first bend over (suppress) several bad powers. Therefore, the way to shleimut is to enter through the narrow pathway. However, that is only when a person is lacking in his status. When he reaches the goal, which is true knowledge of Hashem, he will feel that by adding work, all of the powers of his spirit grow and become more powerful, since they were turned into good powers. Thus it is true that humbling oneself and breaking some of his power is needed in the service of Hashem. However, this is only in regard to preparing oneself to reach the ideal state. The goal, though, is to reach a point where one gives off the light of Hashem with great power and joy, when all the powers of his spirit will stand up straight with much might and wonderful, elevated vigor.
That which the pasuk says, "Before My Name he lowered himself" (Malachi 2:5) is talking only about before His Name, when one is at a point on the path where he must conquer the bad powers that are preventing him from reaching the shleimut of knowledge of Hashem. It does not say that he lowers himself "in Hashem." Rather, another pasuk says, "I will make you powerful, as you know My Name" (Tehillim 91:14). The root of the matter is that man’s spirit is essentially good, and any good thing can provide it with more vigor. His bad parts are just "by chance" due to the darkness of his body. Therefore, when one has already conquered these external problems, the more strength he adds the better. Weakening the spirit, which those who lack wisdom think must come with fear of Hashem, is not the highest level. Rather, the highest level is the vigor of the spirit and its dependency on the living G-d.
Embarrassment as a Cleansing Agent
Gemara:
Whoever sins and is embarrassed is forgiven for all of his sins.
Ein Ayah: When bad things become powerful and are incorporated in the essence of one’s spirit, the sinner is unable to feel any embarrassment because the bad fits in with his lowered self-honor. Therefore, such a corrupt soul is not fit to stand among the holy to see the pleasantness of Hashem, for there is the storehouse of goodness and "evil will not live with You" (Tehillim 5:5).
However, when a person elevates his spirit above the lowliness of corruption, he will be embarrassed by his bad actions and the pain of embarrassment will cause him to more completely despise bad and desire the good he is missing. Even if he is yet to strengthen the good, the bad has already stopped being so naturally entrenched in his spirit. Under such circumstances, his sins are forgiven because the feeling of good embarrassment that is aroused in the spirit spreads to cause him to despise all evil. Therefore, his spirit is already fit to be among the righteous and holy. The remaining evil that clings based on actions must be removed by punishment and affliction, which Hashem will mercifully do, but the root of the spirit will be saved. It is different for a brazen person who knows no embarrassment and for whom evil is an acquired matter. He will not be cleansed like souls that have chance stains of evil. He needs a change in the soul’s nature, for which gehinom (hell) is designed. Therefore, the brazen are set for gehinom and the embarrassed are set for Gan Eden (Avot 5:20) to enjoy Hashem and His goodness.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
