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Gemara: Our Rabbis learned: Who is rich? Whoever has nachat (a good feeling) from his wealth – these are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Tarfon says: He who has 100 vineyards, 100 fields, and 100 servants. Rabbi Akiva says: Whoever has a wife whose actions are pleasing.
Ein Ayah:
Regarding Rabbi Meir’s statement (2:70) – Because all people run after wealth based on the inner inclination that most people have, it is necessary to define the true concept of wealth. Why does that phenomenon exist in the world?
The very existence of riches is a cause of a broadening of the mind and a calmness of the spirit. These allow one to deal with intellectual matters – with Torah and wisdom and all good things. So the real purpose of wealth is the calmness of the spirit that it brings. Therefore, if the wealth causes a person to have confusion, concerns, and a lack of concentration for his spirit, then the point of the wealth is lost. After all, the goal of the riches is the spiritual state, not the riches in and of themselves. [That is why nachat is the true measure of wealth.]
Regarding Rabbi Tarfon’s statement (2:71) – There is another goal of wealth besides the impact on one’s calmness. It is good for people to desire wealth for the purpose of the welfare of society as a whole. When there is a central source of resources, many people can benefit from associating with the possessor of the riches and by working for him. It is good for a person to have an inclination toward being the one who acts and influences others and benefits the masses through his wealth. That is why Hashem put this tendency into mankind. However, then the wealth should be arranged in a way that others are indeed able to benefit. Rabbi Tarfon’s example is that this happens through many vineyards, fields, and servants. In contrast, one who accumulates a lot of gold and silver and places them in storehouses does not create the type of goodness for which wealth was intended.
Regarding Rabbi Akiva’s statement (2:72) – It is possible to explain a person’s natural desire for wealth even in regard to things that are not classically owned by a person but relate to him in a less absolute manner. This expansion of the inclination toward seeking wealth is worthwhile because it can cause a person to try to bring to himself things that are of real value.
One such "acquisition" is having a good wife, whose value exceeds that of fine pearls (see Mishlei 31:10). Since a person’s desire for valuable acquisitions is engrained within him, the desire was expanded further than its original goal. However, it is best if a person can limit the desire to that which is of value at its root, in other words where it brings real benefit and not just imagined benefit, and causes true, not fake results. [Such an example is a wife with good actions.]
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.
