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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: To divine knowledge, which looks deeply into the depths of all matters in the world, there is a lot in common between darkness and light. There are many positive outcomes from evil people just as there are from righteous people, just that the good comes from the evil through the harsh things that come to the wicked and to the world because of them. Also, in the concealed parts of every person’s heart there is a desire for goodness, justice, morality, and sanctity, even in the heart of a "completely evil person." It is just that the obstacles in life make a person trip into the trap of evil.
Therefore, if we were to delve into the depths of the truth of justice, as seen from the complete understanding of the Master of Wisdom, which delves into the depths of a person’s psyche, the signs of the righteous person and the evil person would disappear. Justice as we know it would not exist in the world, [as the true reality is different from the way we perceive it]. When we look at the full picture of how we view justice, with our view of righteousness and evil, it depends on the way things are projected in our world, not as they are in their hidden depths. It is up to the individual person who uses his free choice, after all the factors that influence him, to bring to fruition his characteristic of righteousness or his characteristic of evil.
Therefore, justice is developed according to that which is done in practice. Even though if we could view things in the depths of people’s hearts we would find things more complicated, divine knowledge is much more complete than our internal view of matters. Actually, the divine perception is more similar to what we see openly – not the superficiality of that which is open but its greatest depths.
This is the recognition that comes from the secret lofty justice of Hashem, which values the significance of the action and that which is actualized in the world. This makes it appropriate to put external signs to distinguish between a righteous person and an evil person. It is not the forehead itself that makes the difference between the two but the writing that is an expression of the practical and powerful divine justice in the land. This is carried out by the angel Gavriel. He was to put an outward sign of black ink on the foreheads of the righteous. If there is not full justice, at least there is not wickedness. This is the symbolism of ink, which is ready to be used for writing and does not come from a source of evil.
Evil will be exposed by its negative sign, made from blood. This shows that the value of justice is not according to the depth that a person perceives because he does not have the mind to see it through, but rather based on practical actions that are open and practical. The way actions are carried out is the boundary between righteousness and evil. This is hinted to in the pasuk: "Say to the righteous that it is good, that he shall eat from the fruits of his actions. Woe unto a bad wicked person, for he will have done to him as the working of his hand makes him deserve" (Yeshaya 3:10-11).
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
