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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Asher Ben Haim
The Rabbi responded, "I see that I must reiterate that central principle which we have discussed a number of times already, namely, that God must be worshiped according to His own laws, according to the commandments which He himself has given us, and not according to human sentiment or imagination.
The Divine Torah does not exhort man to worship God through self-mortification. The Torah commands us to worship God with all of our spiritual and physical faculties and not to give preference to one faculty over another. leaning too far to one side comes at the expense of the other. If one concedes too much to physical appetite, one will neglect the mental faculties, and vice versa. Exaggerated stringency weakens the desire to bestow goodness upon others, while exaggerated kindness comes at the expense of sometimes-necessary sternness.
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
34 - 34. The Jewish People's Extensive Suffering
35 - 36. Well-balanced Character Traits
36 - 35. The Commandments Depend on Good Character Traits
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In sum, the Rabbi says to the Khazar king, "There are three pillars of divine service according to our Torah: fear, love, and joy. The Jew must draw near to God through these three faculties. Fear in appropriate matters and joy in appropriate matters. Our submission on fast days does not bring us any closer to God than our joy on Sabbaths and holidays - if that joy is guided by proper reflection and intention.
Joy in the fulfillment of a commandment, together with love for the God who commands it and recognition of the good which God bestows upon us by commanding us - this is as if one has been called to enter the house of God and eat at the Almighty's own table. This, after all, is the idea that underlies the holidays and their attendant Pilgrimages to the Holy Temple. The Sabbath too is a day of joy, a sacred day, a day on which the sanctity comes into our house. We merit, as it were, hosting God himself in our own home. The joy in these days, the joy of the Sabbath and the Festivals, is a wonderful act of Divine worship."
The Rabbi continues, "If, because of the Joy of fulfilling a commandment, a person becomes enthusiastic and rejoices and exalts to the point where he dances and sings, this is divine worship which causes him to cling to God. The Torah does not leave it up to man to decide regarding the correct proportions between fear and joy. Rather, the Torah prescribes special times, Sabbaths and holidays, Sabbatical years and Jubilee years, and all of these are days of remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt and remembrance of the creation of the universe. Keeping and honoring the Sabbath, then, is tantamount to thanking the Almighty. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This being the case, observing the Sabbath brings man closer to the Almighty than numerous prayers, or acts self-denial and mortification.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
