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Beit Midrash
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- Ein Aya
Ein Ayah: Disease, like all hardships in the world, has a moral purpose, namely, to soften a person’s hard heart, thereby enabling one to more easily surrender to Hashem’s good path for man. Just as there is a value in illness or another affliction actually occurring, there is also value in its existence without afflicting someone, in that it takes away from his tranquility, making him aware that only with Hashem’s help and mercy will he avoid them. If that mindset works for a person, then the potential of the hardships is sufficient for him without their occurring. His heart will be softened by concern about potential hardships and by the request that they not come, which connects his heart and mind to Hashem.
As long as the person is in such a proper state that the concern for what could happen has the same impact as the actual hardship does for most people, that suffices, and he can remain healthy with Hashem’s mercy resting upon him. This also serves as a sign that his spirit is pure enough that he remains holy enough that he does not turn to actually sinning, even if there are certain tendencies for bad in his thought process.
Still, to overcome those problems, there is just a need for a hint of what could happen along with a request of mercy, which includes man exposing himself as vulnerable and in need of divine mercy. These feelings uplift him in the ways of Hashem and curb the stupidity of images produced by lowly desires, which chase people away from the courtyards of Hashem. These uplifting experiences will return him to love of Hashem and following in His paths.
If a person actually becomes sick, it is a sign that his spiritual side deteriorated to the point that he needs a jarring situation and not just a hint at one, in order to remove the impurities. It must be that his negative side is not just a matter of images, for which images would remedy, but that it reached stages of actualization. In order to overcome this and not remain ill, there is a need for real merits, the products of actions, which can help counteract the damage to his soul. He needs to beg for mercy that these positive powers will suffice to stem the tide without the need for illness. Such sincere requests can raise him to the point that he can fix himself not only according to the situation he is in at the time but even one that he might come to in the future.
Based on these merits, he can succeed in having any changes within him being for the better. After all, Hashem is always prepared to bestow good, and a person just has to be ready to receive it properly. Asking for mercy is such a preparation to receive divine grace, as it purifies the emotions to be ready to do good deeds and contemplate proper beliefs, which straighten out a person without illness and afflictions. This is as the pasuk says: "It shall be if you listen to Hashem’s voice and do what is straight in His eyes and listen to Hismitzvot and follow His statutes, all of the illnesses that I placed upon Egypt, I will not place upon you, for I am Hashem, who heals you" (Shemot 15:26).
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.
