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Beit Midrash
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Gemara: Rav Yehoshua the son of Rav Idi came to Rav Ashi’s home. They prepared for him the third calf of its mother (a choice type of meat). They said to him: "Will our master please eat?" He told them that he was in the midst of a fast day. They said to him: "Do you not accept that which Rav Yehuda said: "A person can ‘borrow’ the fast [he accepted upon himself] and ‘pay it back’ [a different day]."
Ein Ayah: There is a rule about mitzvot and obligations of the Torah, especially in matters between man and Hashem. They are supposed to have a desired impact not only in general but even on every individual to make him close to Hashem and bring him to holy actions, characteristics, and viewpoints. On the other hand, a person’s life has to continue normally, without the Torah making overly taxing moral demands on him, as the Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:6) says regarding the Torah acting harmoniously with nature.
Although the goal is that the Torah will make the maximum contribution to every individual, the Torah is still addressed to the community as a whole and its needs. It is forbidden for the individual to "break through the fences" and change limitations and times, even if according to a person’s specific level and situation it would have been better for him had the mitzva been in a different manner or time. This is because the individual has no right to demand that his particular spiritual needs be addressed in the face of unchanging details of the ways of the Torah.
On the other hand, there are opportunities for individual service of Hashem, such as accepting vows and becoming a nazir, through which an individual can construct certain unique added guidelines for himself that are in consonance with his personal needs. There are a variety of related forms that such an approach of accepting additional practices that fit one’s approach of sanctity and piety can take. One of them is a ta’anit yachid (fast of the individual).
Since its whole purpose is to align the personal spiritual needs to correspond to the regular halachot’s appropriateness for the entire community, this sends the message that the standard rules are immutable and cannot be compromised by the individual. To strengthen this message, it is proper that the parameters of such additions of the individual be as flexible to the changing needs of the individual as can be. In that way, the individual can be especially spiritually served while not harming the rules made for the entire community [by equating one with the other].
For that reason, when one has accepted a standard ta’anit yachid, it is possible to "borrow and pay back" if the original day does not presently coincide with his spiritual or even his physical needs. That is indeed in line with the distinction – the community’s obligations are set and unchanging; the special additions for the individual are flexible and fluid.
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.
