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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Gemara: [The mishna says that in the area of the Beit Hamikdash in which the kohanim warmed themselves, it was permitted to put wood on the fire until closer to Shabbat than it is in one’s home. The reason this is permitted is that] kohanim are diligent.
Ein Ayah: One whose emotions increase to the point that his intellect becomes confused is liable to not remember clearly enough what his restrictions are according to the divinely ordained Torah laws. A person who is susceptible to such a problem must be very careful at the time of his increased emotion that he not violate Torah law, which would "breach gaps into the fences of the world."
The situation could even exist whereby his power of imagination might tell him, in his emotional state, that he is in the midst of activity for purposes of love of Hashem and His glory, [and therefore he should not be unduly restricted]. However, this is a warped approach. It is a foundation of the Torah that the intellect must always be in the superior position and always push one in the direction that it sees as fit based on the Torah and on wisdom.
Kohanim are people who are able to combine these elements properly. They are expected to move away from cold intellectual service of Hashem and embrace emotional elements of their service in the Beit Hamikdash. They energize the powers that could otherwise cool off due to the effect of an abundance of calculations and knowledge on the powers of the body. It is problematic when emotion, which is also a power of the body, is not sufficiently involved. The proper situation is that emotion is involved and the intellect is supervising, making sure that everything is operating to the appropriate degree, which is set according to a certain system and calculation. Even then, the intellect must be present and ensure that there is no longer a need for some type of restraint to prevent even a small infraction against the precepts of the Torah.
The above is a good lesson for all those who feel a need to increase the emotional element of their service of Hashem and thus broaden their spiritual attainments. Their path should be arranged, from the outset, on the path of Torah, which is the loftiest wisdom and contains the proper measuring tools for all of man’s actions. With that in hand, people will succeed in ensuring that the extra elements of emotionalism will remain a blessing. It is not only the kohanim, sons of Aharon, who knew how to be diligent and careful. It can and should be the legacy of the entire "kingdom of kohanim" ( Bnei Yisrael - see Shemot 19:6), whose members shall lead their lives according to the intellect. This is appropriate for a kingdom, which needs to follow wise guidelines in an exact manner, and a "holy nation" (ibid.), which is elevated with intellectual riches and feelings of sanctity, which is the "fire of holiness" (see Devarim 33:2).
With this, we have completed our study of Ein Ayah on the first perek of Shabbat.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
