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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
Commentaries struggled with the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, as it should have exempted him from punishment. The Rambam (Teshuva 6:3) says that the hardening was part of the punishment. However, it is difficult why he needed the hardening, as there was so much to punish for in his past behavior. The Ramchal (Derech Hashem 5:1) explains that the "image of G-d" that man has means that man can reach levels that are innate to the Divine by wrestling with and subduing the evil inclination. One of the inclination’s trick’s is to blind the person so that he should not see alternative actions, like a drug addict who stops believing that he can stop being a drug addict. When we infer from the Torah that certain sins pollute the heart, it means that one stops sensing the battle and happily continues to do the sin without noticing the alternatives.
We distinguish between people who act properly and run to good things and those who unfortunately run to bad things (Berachot 28b). One who has developed a proclivity to sin is like one who runs to sin and thereby creates a dependency on sin. The worst thing is for one to become like a robot who can no longer decide on his actions but is almost forced into the actions or like an addict who knows he is destroying himself but cannot stop.
It is actually the performance of sins that makes the person’s heart hard, as one sin brings on another until the sinner develops an ideology of sin that denies other approaches. He forgets the idea of being able to strive for being in the "image of G-d." But man is in the image of G-d, as Hashem breathed into us a "soul of life" (Bereishit 2:7). Moshe repeated over and over in Sefer Devarim that we have freedom to choose goodness.
This is what the Torah meant by "because in the desires of my heart I shall go." The sinner says that he will not be punished because there is no alternative to the way he is acting, as he is addicted. The fact that he acted as he wanted pushed him into that position. Therefore, that which infuriates Hashem is the statement that I will follow what I want, for from that point on, there appears to be little hope to do otherwise.
However, hope in the form of teshuva (repentance) always exists and, in fact, is close and "in your mouth and heart to do it" (Devarim 30:14). If we can look past the façade that the evil inclination spreads out before us we will see that the path to repentance is much closer than we could see.
thieves, and we are just returning to reclaim it.
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.
