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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Jacob ben Bechora
One who prays should wait one hour [not clear if it is literally an hour or some period of time] after his tefilla (prayer), as the pasuk says: "However, the righteous will praise Your name, the upright will sit before Your face" (Tehillim 140:14).
Ein Ayah:
The impact of prayer should extend not just during the period that the prayer is being said. Rather, the spiritual elevation and sanctity of the experience should sanctify the person’s normal activities, so that they should be focused on the goal of truth and righteousness, in line with the pasuk: "In all of your paths, know Him" (Mishlei 3:6). That is the function of the time after prayer: to connect one’s lofty thoughts and emotions during prayer to his whole physical life. The ability to accomplish this connection earns one the title of one who is upright, as he does not leave activities in the physical world but expands them and glorifies them by connecting them to true success. The patriarchs were able to do this and for this reason their ostensibly mundane activities are recorded in the Torah. They were called upright (Avoda Zara 25b), as they were happy with whatever Hashem bestowed upon them, as the pasuk says: "For those with a straight heart there will be happiness" (Tehillim 97:11).
The purity of a person who is able to integrate spiritual experiences into his mundane life allows one to improve himself from every experience. He is able to add on to the proper inhabitation of the world while still bringing himself true spiritual success because his activities are connected to lofty thoughts and emotions. While a righteous person enjoys righteousness, he should have the righteousness spread out into those areas that seem distant. That is what is referred to by the pasuk that "the upright will sit before Your face." When you take that approach into the marketplaces, you show that Hashem is upright. Praise of Hashem comes from a glorious world of charm and beauty and refines the spirit of mankind, thereby bringing about true spiritual completeness.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
