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- Ein Aya
A Man of Fear of Sin
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 2:172)
Ein Ayah: Standing up before a talmid chacham and before people of stature improves the soul by getting it used to having a perception of something noble that inspires he who stands and causes him to act properly. By strengthening the reaction to good people, he will also improve his reaction to every good deed and display of pleasant morality, so that instead of being passive, he will act and be inspired. That is the reason that standing up is a good way to express honor for someone, for the purpose of honor for people of stature is so their influence should be as clear and active as possible.
It is possible for a person to acquire a certain degree of stature or a certain characteristic, but in a manner that does not fit in with his general behavior. As one example, it is possible for a person to be fearful of sin, but the significance of this fact is lessened because the essence of his personality is weak due to feebleness of the body or the spirit or to lack of awareness. In other words, it can be that the reason he does not seek sin is because he does not see doing bad as a viable choice the way most people do. Such a person does not know how to do bad, and thus it cannot fully be said that he chose to avoid it due to fearfulness of sin. We can call him "fearful of sin" but not "a man who is fearful of sin." The purpose of the Torah is to fulfill the pasuk (Vayikra 18:5): "… that a person should do them and live by them." In other words, we are referring to one whose powers of the body and the spirit are all fully intact and with all that vibrancy chose to lead a more sacred and lofty life, in which he is close to Hashem and follows His path. That is why it stresses "a man," one who is full of vigor, which gives greater significance to his fear of sin.
Since that which is active in such a person is his own essence, the desire for goodness is already in his benevolent soul. He uses the Torah path to make sure that his spirit desires only the good and not the bad. Therefore, the full picture of his fearfulness of sin is in play when he stays away from sin.
A Son of Torah
(condensed from Ein Ayah, Shabbat 2:173)
Ein Ayah: The positive effect that comes from recognizing he who deserves honor comes when the honorable person had to work hard and with good intentions. Then when people honor him, they will come to work harder to try to get closer to goodness. There are times when practical morality is found naturally in special people who were blessed with successful personalities and characteristics. Therefore, fear of sin is not always a measure of one’s choice to embrace goodness.
Every person is born wild. However, when he inculcates himself with Torah, he merits to not only be called one who knows Torah but "a son of Torah." That is a sign that the Torah trained him the way a mother trains her son in a good, upright lifestyle. Such a person is fit for honor so that the ones who honor him will also strive to occupy themselves with Torah. Indeed, the crown of Torah is ownerless, so that whoever wants to come and acquire it can do so (Rambam, Talmud Torah 3:1).
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
