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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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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.
