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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: We see in creation that the higher the level of the creature the greater the extent to which its life force is centralized. For this reason, the more advanced species are more vulnerable than the lower ones. That is why one can see a lowly species cut into pieces and yet remain alive. Therefore, it follows that man, the crown of the creation, has a very exact centrality of his life force.
The level of the creations corresponds to the order in which the Torah tells of their creation. The later the mention, with man being the last, the more important the creation and the stronger its life force. The idea is that the centralization of the life force is greater when it builds on previous, more individualistic forces. Man was created such that his spiritual powers should be focused on one thing, and therefore the centralization is at the root of his existence. When man’s evil inclination brings him to lose his spiritual center and allow him to wander to wherever his temporal desires take him, it robs him of his right to live. This is different from lower beings, which have a right to exist even if they lack a valued goal, because more is not expected of them. After all, man was created last, and eventually he is to unite all of creation for one lofty purpose. However, he can keep this role only when he stays on the straight and proper path.
Regarding puranut, we must distinguish between a lowering of one’s level and his total demise. People’s levels extend from those of the highest of levels down to the people who are beneath them. When there is a need to lower the level of the collective, the person on top does not feel the deterioration right away because he still retains some prestige based on the status which he had previously. Those beneath him, though, who receive much of their stature from the ones above them and have little of their own, will feel the deterioration right away. This is because people will first lose the ability to have a positive impact on others and later lose the ability to hold on to their own level. Therefore, in regard to the sin involving the snake, where the question was only one of losing one’s level, the puranut was handed out from the lower level, the snake, and then preceded on to Adam.
However, the matter is different in regard to the destruction of the flood, which involved the loss of life. In this respect, the higher the level, the more one’s life is centralized, as we have seen. Therefore, once the problem impacted on man’s central essence, his demise came about more quickly. That is why man is described as dying first.
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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.
