YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Serving Hashem
- Additional Lessons
The Torah stressed that mortality is the human condition from which there are no exceptions or escape. Yet the Torah demanded that we live cheerful lives and taught us that depression and dwelling on sadness only distances us from our Creator. We are to worship God in a sense of happiness and optimism. Divine inspiration cannot be achieved in sadness and frustration. Judaism, which teaches us that our soul is immortal, therefore faces the reality of mortality realistically but still retains a sense of eternity that every human being can attach one’s self to. There are so many events in our lives that we cannot control or predict so that worrying in advance about the unknown becomes futile. However regarding those things in life that are within our grasp and are part of our daily behavior and actions they have to be viewed as important matters. We should not procrastinate or delay the doing of good on the promise of tomorrow. The words of Rabi Akiva ring true down the ages: "Do not say I will postpone the study of Torah until tomorrow when I will have time and means for it, for perhaps that tomorrow may never yet come to you." Thus the rule of behavior that the rabbis taught us: "An opportunity to perform a mitzvah should never be allowed to simply pass." Life is too uncertain for us to allow delay and postponement to rule our good instincts and potentially holy behavior.
The Torah emphasized this point to us when it famously stated: "The hidden things in life - the future and the continuing interference of unplanned for events into our lives - belong solely to the Lord our God. But what is in our control, our current actions and behavior, is to be subject to the fulfillment of the Torah by us and our progeny forever more!" Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra once stated succinctly: "The past is gone, the future has not yet arrived and the present is but a fleeting moment, so humans have to make the best of life as it occurs." This follows the advice of the Psalmist - in this case our teacher Moshe - that we should count our days. Every day is a precious commodity and should not be squandered in pettiness, foolishness and sad evil. The importance of living life in this fashion lies at the essence of all Jewish thought and ritual. In fact it is the presence of ritual in our everyday life that allows that day - every day - to be special and worthy for today I am fulfilling an obligation to my Creator and thus binding myself to eventual eternity. Life truly intervenes and interferes with our plans and certainties but we have to rise to life’s occasions and challenges with faith, hope, alacrity and optimism.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
