YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Gemara:
Who is an am ha’aretz? Rabbi Eliezer says: whoever does not recite Kri’at Shema both in the day and in the night. Rabbi Yehoshua says: whoever does not put on tefillin. Ben Azai says: whoever does not have tzitzit on his garment. Rabbi Natan says: whoever does not have a mezuza on his entranceway. Rabbi Yonatan ben Yosef says: whoever has sons and does not raise them to be involved in Torah study.
Ein Ayah: There are general elements of service of Hashem and sometimes even more localized elements that bring about general gains in a Jew’s or any human’s morality, which, if a person acquires them properly, will protect him from moral deterioration.
In addition to all of the spiritual realizations that one may have reached, it is still necessary to consistently renew quickly his basic religious perceptions, so that they not be vague in his mind. That is why there is a need for Kri’at Shema twice a day, and this is why the gemara (Berachot 63b) says that if one misses Kri’at Shema one night, it is as if he never said it. When he does not renew the basic principles, perceptions that serve man’s external view of the world can start to grow dangerously.
Even this renewal, though, will not be effective in the long term as long as it is limited to the heart, emotion, and nature of a person. If the emotions are not acted upon, he may build the emotion on top of old content that is antithetical to the truth. For that purpose we have tefillin, which help the human heart and mind put their powers into effect in the proper Torah-based manner. Regarding cases where this is missing, the gemara (Berachot 6a) says that one who says Kri’at Shema without tefillin is like one who says false testimony about himself.
Furthermore, general morality must be connected to the full gamut of specific mitzvot and thereby obtain all of the proper characteristics a Jew eternally requires. That is why tzitzit are needed on the fringes of one’s clothing. A garment is external to the person, and the fringes are further to the edges. Yet, it is a reminder of the precise number of the entirety of mitzvot.
Despite all the above, the essence of man is his internal knowledge and understanding. We have explained that a mezuza is placed on a person’s entranceway to indicate that his restful stay within his home is a preparation for absorbing and deepening his thought, just as a person’s exit to the street and involvement in other people’s lives is for the broadening of his perception. The mezuza helps one focus all of his imagination, related to his activities, toward his internal understanding.
Finally, while all the above are preparations for the intellect, the foundation of everything is a person’s hopes and desires, the most important of which is the success of his children. The spiritual edifice is complete only when he strives to pass on the spirit of understanding and fear of G-d through the Torah he makes sure his children learn. Even if, for a variety of reasons, he has not succeeded in perfecting these values in himself, he should hope and work so that they become the future of his children.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
