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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
[The Torah writes in the context of the creation of man,] "Vayy itzer Hashem" (Hashem created) with two letters yud. We learn from there that He created man with two yetzarim (inclinations – the words for creating and inclination are very similar) – a good inclination and an evil inclination. Rav Nachman asked: But only one yud is found regarding the creation of animals, and we see that they have an evil inclination, as they damage, bite, and kick. Rather, it is as Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi said: "Woe is to me because of yotzri (my Creator); woe is to me because of yitzri (my evil inclination)."
Ein Ayah: The animalistic characteristics that drag a person to lowly desires do not require a special creation to have their effect. Rather, if a person just abandons the special high nature of his spirit, he will sink naturally toward great deterioration and will remain there until the spirit of his intellect will raise him again to the proper level.
However, the aforementioned danger of natural deterioration applies only to matters of physicality, to which man has a natural animalistic connection. However, there is another part to a person’s evil inclination. That is in regard to a spiritually undeveloped person’s opposition to accepting Hashem’s mandates. This finds special expression in regard to mitzvot whose reason is not clear but are divine mandates, which some people will oppose even though the mitzva does not compromise the desires of his animalistic tendencies. This is a specially created inclination, which allows a person to improve his spirit by giving him free choice to choose between that which is right and between this evil inclination. This is the battle between the recognition of the word of Hashem and the inclination, in addition to the battle against the natural tendencies toward physicality. When one overcomes the intellectual evil inclination, then he will have a broader recognition of goodness because he not only will know about good in and of itself but also in contrast to the evil that he has been exposed to.
This explains the double creation that the pasuk refers to. It is not intrinsic in the creation of a physical being that there should have to be any other force toward sin other than the situation of his spiritual side not succeeding, which allows the physical side to take over and cause sin. Yet, Hashem created an additional type of intellectual evil inclination. The Rabbis referred to one type of evil inclination with "woe is to me from my Creator," i.e., the inclination to go against what Hashem said simply because Hashem said it. "Woe is to me from my evil inclination" refers to those inclinations that oppose success and purity in pursuit of a connection to Hashem due to the unrefined physical nature of a person.
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.
