YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
[This is a condensation of a very long and complicated piece/]
Ein Ayah:The outcome of every good deed should be seen as something eternal. For one with a strong sense of community, there is automatically eternity, for the communal always exists, as it says, "A generation goes and a generation comes" (Kohelet 1:4). Therefore, there is already a basis for a complete divine reward system, for fulfillment of mitzvot has a positive effect on the eternal state of the collective.
It is known that justice regarding the individual is a foundation of justice for the communal as well. There can be guaranteed reward for the individual only if the soul remains after death to take part in the after-life and resurrection of the dead. When people’s philosophies were strong, there was no need to put a stress on that. This is preferable because considering the after-life requires abstract conceptions, which frustrates those who cannot handle them. It is enough for one to sense clearly the impact on the collective, and he will intuit that the individual who is a building block of the collective must somehow continue to benefit from his good deeds in a world that is all good. A person will see that in this world, one needs to be connected to the collective in order to see justice, and one who is connected will appreciate it. He will also understand that when there will be a different type of life, justice will continue in an appropriate way. He will be confident in justice for the individual because such justice is a basis for justice of the collective.
However, when the proper philosophies were challenged and the centrality of the collective was weakened, people became incited to doubt whether there is a moral value to life on the level of the individual. A need thus developed to stress that there are two worlds, which relate to justice in different ways. This world brings justice for the collective and the world-to-come provides justice for the individual.
This became even more important during the period of exile, when collective life lost its luster and even the justice of the collective was harder to sense. Then belief in the ultimate reward in the next world for the individual strengthens confidence about the success of the nation.
In general, people have an emotional nature and an intellectual nature. When things are working properly, one will naturally be drawn to do the right thing even without making a calculation as to the reward he will receive, as the pasuk says, "The purity of the straight person will lead him" (Mishlei 11:3). However, there must be an intellectual element as well, which tells him that there is a just reward for those good deeds as well. Once there is an answer to the question of the reward for good deeds, then it is praiseworthy for one to act properly based on the emotion without giving much thought to the intellectual. However, when people deteriorated to the point that they did not take encouragement from that which happens in this world, it became necessary to put a stress on the world-to-come, as found expression in the addition of "min haolam v’ad haolam" to the end of berachot. This taught people that there is good that comes from a close connection with Hashem.
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.
