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Beit Midrash
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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Hana Bat Haim
Human intellect dictates that the ideal servant is one who worships God through fasts, self-mortification, and abstention from the pleasures of the world. This, people believe, is how a righteous person ought to appear. The Torah, however, does not emphasize these actions. Rather, the perfect service of God is that service which is carried out joyfully.
For example, the obligation to keep the Sabbath, a commandment which is equal to the entire Torah and is a sign and covenant between God and Israel, must be observed joyfully. We are obligated to delight in the Sabbath. The honor of the Sabbath and the delight and joy of the Sabbath are an indication of the value of the this sacred day, a day which serves as remembrance of the creation of the world and the Exodus from Egypt. We can see, then, that one who keeps the Sabbath properly with honor and delight demonstrates that he is thankful that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. Such a person also expresses thanks to God for taking us out of Egypt.
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
36 - 35. The Commandments Depend on Good Character Traits
37 - 37. Torah Commandments: The Ultimate Joy
38 - 38. “Israel, Through Whom I Will Be glorified”
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Rabbi Chaim Vital, the disciple of the Holy Ari, in his work "Shaarei Kedusha," explains that one who serves God sorrowfully resembles a servant who serves his master with a downcast and sulking face. How can one possibly serve God in such a manner? Even if a person carries out his service to the letter, a downcast facial expression ruins everything. The Divine Presence and prophetic inspiration rest only upon one who is joyful.
It is told of the Vilna Gaon (in the introduction to the work "Peat HaShulchan") that he would praise the discipline of music and would say that most of the Torah's cantillations as well as the secrets of the songs of the Levites and the "Tikkunei Zohar" cannot be grasped without understanding music theory. He would say that, with the help of music, a person can die pleasantly with the departure of the soul, and it is possible to bring the dead back to life by the secrets of music which are hidden in the Torah.
He would say, Moses brought a specific number of songs and measures down from Mount Sinai, and the rest are composites.
Sadness on the other hand, says Rabbi Chaim Vital, hinders the service of God and the performance of commandments. It hinders Torah study and focused attention in prayer, and eliminates good thoughts to serve God. It is the gateway to the stimulation of the evil inclination, for one sees that he has no benefit from his service of God being gripped by sadness and plagued by suffering.
Rather, one must serve God with joy, as it is written, "Serve God joyfully." And the service of commandments and prayer must be carried out with paramount joy, as we find in the case of the Sage Abaye who would become very happy before putting on his Tefillin, and R' Bruna who would smile for the whole day after reciting the prayer of redemption just prior to reciting the Amida prayer.
Therefore, in sum, one of the central foundations in the service of God is to perform the commandments with joy.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.