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Ein Ayah: There are two opposite mistakes that are made regarding how to properly deal with a person’s natural inclinations. A person is born with an untamed nature, which has to be developed. However, this should not be done by trying to totally negate his nature, for this will not succeed. Rather, he should use wisdom to determine the purposes of his characteristics and integrate them in a manner that serves the purposes for which they were created. Therefore, it is a mistake to despise a characteristic and try to eradicate it.
On the other hand, it is also a mistake to accept one’s characteristics and build a lifestyle around them as they are. This is an approach of evil that leads to death. Rather, one should avoid the lowly path that can lead from the characteristics and use them to carry out intellectual/spiritual goals, along the lines of divine and moral norms.
Happiness is a normal characteristic of healthy people. However, such happiness, when unbridled, can be connected to matters so lowly and absurd as to melt in the face of the intellect. The happiness that is connected to sensual desires will not really satisfy a person and will lead to disappointment when he discovers their emptiness.
However, these observations should not bring people to reject the gift of happiness. Rather, we should take this healthy tool and fill it with truthful applications. We should internalize the idea that happiness was made for these proper goals, not to try to satisfy one’s wild fantasies. Thus, the gemara advises to apply Kohelet’s questioning of the value of happiness to happiness that is not related to mitzvot, where over-exuberance is childish and spiritually damaging. What is positive issimcha of mitzva, which includes happiness about having grasped truth about Hashem and His Torah, the joy of having performed acts of goodness and kindness, and performing all of the obligations of the Torah and the intellect, in action and in thought with happiness. When one does so, he will uncover the great potential of his characteristic of happiness and establish it according to its essential nature.
This is what the pasuk means by "praising the happiness," referring to the specific and natural happiness that applies to a person in the depth of his spirit, after he has elevated himself with wisdom, piety, and ethics. Indeed, simcha of mitzva, i.e., happiness connected to honest intellect, is praiseworthy. In contrast, when happiness remains in its low level, it will not last over time, as life and intellect will "slap it in the face" and say, "What is happiness there for?" Childish reveling is based on falseness and nothingness. It only appears, from a distance, to be real happiness, but it is revealed by investigation to be false. Rather, happiness exists in order to be connected to mitzvot. "I will rejoice in Hashem; I will have joy in the G-d of my salvation" (Chabakuk 3:18). About the type of happiness that celebrates intellectual attainment and following the proper lifestyle and mode of behavior, it is said, "The heart of those who seek Hashem will be happy" (Tehillim 105:3).
Ein Ayah Receivers’ Advantages over Doers- Better to Make Changes in Heaven?
Condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 9:93-94
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
