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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: Affliction of the spirit is much greater and more troubling than affliction of the body. Therefore, a bad dream, in which Divinely-inspired fear impacts on the power of imagination of the spirit, is more powerful than physical pain.
This power itself is exactly what engenders the positive part of a bad dream. This is because the fear of punishment, which is important for the furtherance of the world, has to be able to be perceived in a way that man can absorb it. In order to fully fear punishment, one has to know of the idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body, at which time it will receive its reward and punishment. However, man, who is steeped in the material world, has trouble picturing punishment of the soul. For that purpose, a nightmare comes to cause a person poignant spiritual pain and fear of a type that gives him some idea what he may feel in punishment after death. In this way, he is less likely to be tricked into believing that he will escape payment for his sins when he is dead. He will recognize that even without a body and its pain, one is capable of suffering in a spiritual manner, through fear, pain, and embarrassment that affect the spirit. This will give the dreamer a broader perspective of the proper fear of Hashem and His punishment.
Actual Truth and Theoretical Truth
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 9:40)
Gemara: [After the gemara discusses the idea that all dreams contain elements that are void, Rabbi Barechia is cited as saying something that seems an example of void in a dream.] Even though most of a dream may come into fruition, the entire dream will not come true, as we see from Yosef’s dream, as he saw the sun and the moon [representing his mother] bowing down to him, and at that time his mother had already died.
Ein Ayah: Void things in dreams are things that have nothing to do with that which goes on and are a result of the element of exaggeration in one’s imagination. However, a dream can be of the best possible type and follow the nature of the pure spirit. In that case, everything will be related to matters of truth, and there will be nothing void in the dream.
However, there are two types of truth that can be represented in a dream. There are simple truths, where the matter either already took place or will take place in the future. There is also a potential truth, where something of significance is worthy of happening, but in actuality it will not take place due to technical factors. Such a truth also has value and is not considered a void matter.
In this vein, Rav Barechia was saying that even the substantive part of a dream has elements that may not end up taking place. The example of this is Yosef’s dream in which he saw the moon, representing his mother, bowing down. This is not void because Yosef’s stature would indeed reach such a level that, in theory, his mother would have bowed down to him had she been alive. However, in practice this part of the dream was not fulfilled
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
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.
