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But the Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that all three of these terms are grossly mistranslated! In fact, the terms "repentance, prayer & charity" may actually convey the exact opposite of their true & intended meaning!
"Repentance" implies regret, while Teshuva means "return." "Repentance" assumes that Man is inherently evil, that he must abandon his "normal" sinful state of being for a purer way of life - a fairly drastic and difficult transformation.
But the Torah sees Man’s soul as essentially good; his sins are rather the aberration, & not the reflection of his true character. To do Teshuva, then, is merely to return to oneself; a natural, much easier journey to take.
"Prayer" & Tefila also go in different directions. To "pray" is to beg for what one lacks, to ask a higher power to grant our requests & send blessings – which are beyond our reach - down to us from above. But Tefila derives literally from the word, "attachment." It implies that our neshamot are intrinsically connected to G-d, though that connection may have become sullied & blurred. Through the medium of prayer, we cleave & connect back to Hashem again, our souls rising up to G-d, hooking into His conduit of brachot which now are fully accessible, & so flow naturally to us.
The term "charity" implies that the giver, out of the goodness of his heart, is magnanimously bequeathing some of his hard-earned funds to someone in need. But Tzedaka actually means "justice." The money we have in our possession is not totally our own; it has been placed in trust with us by the Almighty – who is our "senior partner" - & is to be put to proper use by us. To give to those in need, then, is not really an act of "charity" at all, but rather a matter of basic justice & fairness.
Taken together, Tefila, Teshuva & Tzedaka are the instruments which allow us to operate on our damaged souls & repair them; the tools with which we can build – or better, rebuild – our holy relationship with Hashem.
Once we have done that, then everything else – wisdom, satisfaction in life, optimism, a sense of serenity with the universe – will flow to us as naturally as the waters of the Golan – OUR Golan - flow into & fill the Kinneret.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
