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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: A person finds himself in a tight place between his various tendencies. It is difficult to find the exact balanced approach, and one does not succeed without first having failed. The mistake of greattzaddikim is to distance themselves too far from matters of physicality, to the point that they bring upon themselves afflictions of love such as this. This helps them clarify how they should be weighing each element and giving each power in life its full share.
That which is good for a tzaddik emerges from the "rebuke" he receives by means of this affliction, allowing him to hold on to the most exact line. However, he is likely to be concerned about the effect that the publicizing of his affliction will have on others, as they are likely to not understand the full significance of the affliction. People can think that the tzaddik’s affliction is also like that which affects average people, who get hadrokan because of sin and over-exposure to physicality. Then they will think that even the approach of the tzaddik, which seems significantly removed from physicality, is still not enough to make Hashem happy. This will give a distorted picture of proper ethics. It will also make people give up hope of ever succeeding in following the straight path, as they perceive that no one can succeed.
This is against one of the purposes of a tzaddik in setting his path, which is to improve the spiritual lot of others. When he sees that that which was subscribed for him to help further his moral standing will cause others to falter, he would prefer to give up his personal moral improvement on behalf of that of the broader community. This is the proper approach of one who is trustworthy to Hashem. Since Hashem does the desire of those who fear Him (based on Tehillim 145:19), Shmuel Hakatan was healed.
There is also a point to tzaddikim such as Abaye being punished for having an exaggerated approach to their service of Hashem. This can have the positive effect of convincing more normal people from attempting behavior of extreme piety, which should be designed for those who are especially great. Actually, only the more normally travelled path of Torah is fit for the masses, even as we should not cast aspersions on great people who go beyond that. That is why Rava made the statement that he knows that extreme asceticism is what caused Abaye’s problem. Abaye was able to suffer and overcome the problem, whereas common people should not, Heaven forbid, follow such an approach, which is improper for them.
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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.
