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Ein Ayah: Satisfaction relates to every matter according to its characteristics and occurs when it is completed according to the loftiest goals that are feasible in its realm. Among the powers that exist in the world are powers that act and those that are acted upon. Clearly, active powers are complete when nothing prevents them from performing that which they are meant to perform. Ceasing to work is against their nature and detracts from their enjoyment.
Regarding things that are acted upon, they are most fulfilled when they receive a positive act performed by others and when they are able to rest. The situation in which they are not provided for and have to act themselves is one that detracts from their happiness.
The same is true of spirits. There are some spirits that are naturally passive and prefer to be managed by the influence of others, and their lack of action is a sign of their innate nature. Therefore when they reach their point of completeness, it is fitting for them to receive rest, so that they do not need to leave their preferred state and have to act.
Torah scholars are active by nature, and they not only influence their own lives but naturally act to influence others. This activeness is a characteristic of their soul. Therefore, their enjoyment and fulfillment comes by continually remaining active, and this remains the same no matter at what stage of life. In that way, they are to go from strength to strength, precluding the appropriateness of rest, even in the world to come.
Siyum
It is with great joy that we reach the completion of Massechet Berachot in Ein Ayah.
We complete it with Rav Kook’s words of thanks and prayer that grace the end of the massechet, although translation does not do justice to this biblically-based poetry.
This is my prayer to you, Hashem, at a time of good will: He who gives from His mouth wisdom, knowledge, and insight, do not withhold from my mouth a matter of utmost truth, and save me from every obstacle and mistake in matters of halacha and aggada. May my tongue speak Your sayings as You teach me Your statutes. I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your orders. Provide me with the merit to bring that which my heart desires from the potential to the actual, on behalf of the honor of Your holy name. Grant me a spirit of wise counsel, bravery, knowledge, and fear of Hashem. Allow me to merit seeing the happiness that will come to Your nation, to glory with Your inheritance, when You will bring salvation from Zion to Your pride, Israel. I seal my words with thanksgiving, as the pasuk says: "Hashem, You are my G-d, I will exalt You, I will thank Your name for You have done wonders; Your plans from a distance You fulfilled faithfully" (Yeshaya 25:1). I will pray about the future: "And even until old age, Hashem do not leave me until I will tell of Your strength to the generation and Your power to all those who will come" (Tehillim 71:18).
Ein Ayah Siyum Contest
On the occasion of the completion of our presentation of a free translation of Rav Kook’s Ein Ayah on Berachot, we want to share our simcha and our Torah with our readers.
We invite you to send in some of your thoughts about Ein Ayah on Berachot, as has been presented in this forum. The style of your submission is totally up to you: highlighting of certain ideas, questions and answers on one or more pieces, etc.
The author of the submission that we find to be most significant (totally subjectively) will have the opportunity to receive any three seforim that Eretz Hemdah publishes for free (including shipping). (We would ask that we have the right to share the submission with the other readers.) The authors of the second and third "rated" submissions will receive one sefer.
We welcome your participation as your way of expressing your enthusiasm about this ongoing project of making Rav Kook’s writing available to the English-speaking community and in appreciation of the work that goes into it.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
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.
