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Gemara: A certain mother-in-law hated her daughter-in-law. The mother-in-law told her to adorn herself with afarsamon oil. She did so [apparently, excessively]. When the daughter-in-law came, the mother-in-law said: "Light a candle," which the daughter-in-law did. The mother-in-law blew on the fire [setting the oil on the daughter-in-law’s body ablaze], and it consumed her.
Ein Ayah: That which exists on the individual level also applies on the broad level. There are enemies who outwardly interact as friends and give advice. There are also nations that give broad advice to the Jewish nation, when in fact that advice will lead to a great fire that can consume everything that is holy in the Nation of Israel.
Theoretically, using an exaggerated amount of perfume is not so bad. However, it can turn one’s heart away from internal purity and from the sanctity of Torah and mitzvot, which is the stronghold of Israel. This outward adornment fits the mode of behavior of those who strive to live their external lives according to "yafyuto shel Yefet" [the focus on aesthetics of the non-Jews who are (biological or spiritual) descendants of Noah’s son, Yefet]. When done in an exaggerated manner, it can be a step that leads to destructive situations.
We should look at the spiritual equivalent of overusing perfume. This is when the nations, who are far from our internal value system, try to entice us to make their literature and culture a major part of our thought process. When there is a confluence of the external behaviors (oil), which are antithetical to Israel’s Torah with a foreign "flame," the resulting fire will consume all feelings of sanctity within us.
Therefore, we should be careful to incorporate what the nations have to offer externally only in small amounts of that which is compatible with the Torah. This too must be done carefully. We must not rely on their advice about how to use these external matters, because they are interested in burning our Jewish souls. While they sound as inviting as the mother-in-law from the gemara’s story, the end result can be very bitter.
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.
