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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: It is true that wisdom "spreads its branches out" over the entire world of thought and all the elements of life and activity. It covers good and evil, and truth and falsehood, so that from all of these the power of clarification and the light of life can be expanded. In fact, from matters of stupidity, matters of wisdom become known (Zohar, Vayakhel 47:2). Yet, in order to really understand matters, the feeling of the heart is often integral to the knowledge itself. In such a case, while he can imagine with his mind, he will not be able to grasp them until he also feels them with the heart.
The above creates a self-conflicting situation, which makes it incredibly hard for great people, who have elevated themselves properly in seeking truth and justice, to reach full wisdom. On the one hand, these people need to "arm themselves" with every area of knowledge in the world, including paths of evil, foreign influences, and inanity. These include feeling the negative elements, for only by internalizing them will one be able to rule over those elements and turn them into powers of goodness and divine light. On the other hand, if he feels them as they are, he runs the risk of actually falling into the "net" of the evil.
It is therefore necessary for the great man, who far exceeds a normal person, to first make special preparations in field of ethics, and develop a holy attribute of truth. Then he can delve into the very essence of matters until the depths of his heart and soul. If he succeeds at reaching this unique level, then even the lowly exposure to evil cannot harm him, but will enrich his recognition in a way that will enable him to contribute to the nation as a whole by teaching them how to avoid the pitfalls of the evil.
This ability, to reach the depths of all matters, whether good or bad, in a manner that encases all elements of his life, was a central goal of Shlomo in building his monarchal dynasty for all generations. That required him to go to the depths of even the most foreign worlds, including those from which a normal person would not be able to extricate himself. Shlomo, in contrast, had all the tools and the motivation to prepare himself. Because of that, the inclination toward evil developed in him only when he became older, by which time he had already filled himself with proper preparation to handle the challenge. That is when his wives turned his heart toward other gods. In such a case, the fact that his personal heart was not as complete as David’s, and in fact brought him to the brink of terrible sin, was actually an advantage in his quest to improve the nation. It was actually the tendency toward the sin that ensured that he would not sin because he internalized the fact that these sinful matters were full of depravity that can trap people. Only the greatest of all minds could succeed to follow such a dangerous path – to have his heart go toward sin but not to act in sin as a result.
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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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.
