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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
"... His property and our property should be successful and close to the city"
Ein Ayah: A person’s completeness, in his spirit and his personal attributes, will be able to continually grow only if he does not make his personal interests the center of his life. Rather, the needs of the greater community, on its various levels, should be close to his heart. This is especially facilitated when his property is close to the city. A person has to be secure in his personal situation, in that he has acquisitions, whether they are physical property or spiritual acquisitions, such as good deeds, good personal attributes, and knowledge and fear of Hashem. But, in addition, there is an advantage that all of these will be close to the city, or, in other words, close to the life of the community. In that way, he will be ready at all times to help others and in that way elevate himself from his personal realm to the realm of the communal. The great value of a mitzva of the masses is built on this foundation. Indeed, whoever brings merit to the masses will not be connected to sin (Avot 5:18).
Avoiding Negative Influences
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 7:11)
Gemara:
"Satan should not control [the host’s] or our actions, and no matter of evil thoughts, sin, or iniquity shall be thrust before him or us from now and forever."
Ein Ayah: On the fundamental level, one loses a lot if he separates himself from a life within society. It makes it difficult to add completeness to the community, which is his true obligation and the basis of the laws of man and the root of the holy Torah, which is the "inheritance of the assemblage of Yaakov." Indeed, the Torah can be kept in its entirety only when people join together in a life united by serious connections.
On the other hand, communal life also brings many moral stumbling blocks. One intermingles with all sorts of people, including people with improper behavior, whom a society cannot avoid having. This is liable to have a negative impact on everyone and everything within the society. Therefore, after fulfilling his normal aspiration of uniting with the community, every person who cares about his spiritual level should pray that the Satan not control his actions. He must not be damaged, not in the physical/financial realm, which is connected to one’s public life, and not in the spiritual/moral realm.
What especially needs protection is the matter of the purity of one’s thoughts. When one is very involved in society, he is apt to come to desire honor and prominence and to become haughty. That is why we bless others and ourselves that "no matter of evil thoughts, sin, or iniquity shall be thrust before him or us."
Actions that are taken in the public setting are likely to have a direct or indirect impact well into the future, "as the community does not die." Therefore, it is proper to pray that the results of his legacy within society be clean from ill-repute, not only while he is alive and active but in the future as well, so that his legacy not turn into something that is connected to the deterioration of society. Rather, that which he left behind should always be ready to help and raise the level of society in matters of fear of Hashem and the paths of straightness. That is why the beracha ends with the words "from now and forever."
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.
