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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).
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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.
