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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: Life is full of battles. Someone who gives his friend the perception that the path of life is straight and does not alert him to the spiritual and physical pitfalls and obstacles deprives him of the power of being "armed for battle" against these challenges so that he can reach his desired goal. That is the point of the proper blessing one should give when taking leave of his friend: "go to peace." This blessing hints at the fact that the peace and completeness we strive for is always at a distance; we have not arrived at it yet. We remind our friend that there are many things fighting him, and therefore he should strive to remove these obstacles. He should realize that the path itself is not paved with peace, so that one can wish him that he will be going in peace. Rather, the path is full of obstacles that are the opposite of peace. When he makes efforts to overcome all of them, he will arrive at peace.
These difficulties of life are very different for one who has completed life and is at the point where his spirit rests. No one is fighting him or disturbing his ability to rest. The goal of the ascent that one climbs during life is that when he reaches the mountain of Hashem to enjoy the light of the King of Life, the physical battles that have to do with man’s inclinations toward the materialism will no longer be relevant. At that point, we bless the deceased person that he should go straight to his eternal rest "in peace." In other words, after death, even the path is full of peace, not just the destination. It is possible to go from one level to an even higher level. However, along the way there will be nothing that is meant to be an obstacle, which needs to be overcome or may impede the peace.
Specifically, we have two polar descriptions of parts of life: life involves toil; death involves rest. The description of life as being full of toil along with the need for strengthening is intended to bring one to increase his diligence. The description of death as restful is intended to lessen the fear of death and calm the spirit. It also encourages one to work and be active during the time that is set aside for activity, during the years Hashem granted him to do so, in order to increase the good and the peace.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
