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When a person makes an appraisal of his life, he often finds that that he is missing some sort of satisfaction. He may think that he needs to work hard to acquire something else that will make him happy. But for so many people, it just never happens. It can be like a child who is trying to reach the end of the horizon, with the problem being that as he walks, the horizon keeps on changing and never becomes reachable. The greatest blessing is to understand that we should not be looking for the blessing elsewhere, but that the healthy lifestyle we are leading, "listening to Hashem," is itself the blessing.
The gemara (Gittin 68a) tells of a magician who was looking for a treasure at the edge of the world and did not know that he was standing on the treasure. So many people are searching high and low and working so hard at things that will not bring them the real satisfaction that is readily attainable from within and from nearby: a daf of gemara, a perek of mishna, parashat hashavua with Rashi. It is much easier and less strenuous than one thinks.
The midrash (Kohelet Rabba 6:1) illustrates the idea of the pasuk "and also the soul will not be filled" (Kohelet 6:7) as follows. It is like the simple city dweller who marries a princess. If he brings her all of the things in the world that he has access to, they will not be worth anything to her because she is a princess. Our soul demands nourishment, but we provide it with physical food, which it cannot digest because our soul is spiritual.
This Shabbat we proclaim the coming of the month of Elul, which Chazal connect to the pasuk, "Should the shofar be sounded in the city and the people will not tremble?" (Amos 3:6). Elul is here to shake us out of our complacency regarding our spiritual state. For those who have decided that their path cannot be questioned, it is a matter of raising the question of whether that should really be the case. "Maybe I am not always right." In this way it is a preparation for the Ten Days of Repentance, a preparation that takes three times as long as the repentance itself. We must realize that we can be wrong because if we cannot be wrong, we cannot sin or need repentance. If we can break the wall of complacency, we might be able to see the ugly truth, and then we can know what we have to repent for.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts