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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: If someone who is not involved on a regular basis in Torah study regularly comes late to the beit midrash, people will assume that he was busy with his business affairs. However, a talmid chacham, who usually has no regular occupation besides learning and can be assumed to be studying Torah in his home as well, does not have a standard excuse for being late to the beit midrash. Thus, people will conclude that he does not care about the advantages of being part of a group of scholars and G-d-fearers.
This would make him a posheia, which is a term for one who sins without the prospect of benefit. The word is etymologically related to the word poseia, which means taking a step, in this case, a step out of the group.
It is a matter related to great completeness for a person to realize the value of being part of a positive group, both for his own benefit and for that of Hashem’s nation. The idea is as follows. Usually one’s motivation to act improperly comes from stupidity or the strength of his desires. We call resulting wrongdoings chet and avon. There is also, though, an evil inclination to see oneself as outside the order one is required to have based on the justice of the Torah. One who wants to do the aveira for the purpose of not feeling contained in the circle that surrounds the nation is called a posheia.
A moral person should see how the spiritual welfare of the whole world depends on the extent to which there is a love of the correct divine order that is the foundation of the holy Torah. Love of being part of the group of scholars is something that particularly leads one to this proper order. Even though being by oneself can bring one to grasp higher ideas than he can as part of a group, the benefit to the world in regard to the order of being part of a group of complete people is so great that a scholar should be diligent in joining the group at the first opportunity.
The Danger of Eating With Lowly People
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 6:57)
Gemara: There are six things that are negative for a talmid chacham to do: ... He should not take part in a meal of amei ha’aretz (lowly people), for he will come to follow them.
Ein Ayah: We saw in the previous piece that even though one may be able to reach a higher level if he keeps to himself, it is still preferable to give that up in order to join up with other scholars. However, now we are told to realize that the benefit of the group is true only in regard to scholars, but he should not join the group of lowly people. He should not think that if he lowers himself a little bit, it will still help in that he can raise the others. To the contrary, it is they who will lower him rather than his raising them up. As opposed to the aforementioned problem of coming late to the beit midrash where people only say that he is a posheia, where objectively he is sometimes justified in doing it to increase completeness, in eating with lowly people he actually does lower himself.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
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.
