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Man is able to derive enjoyment more so than animals, and animals derive more enjoyment than plants. This is true even though plants, unlike animals, receive nourishment constantly and without interruption. The reason for this is that the finer one's senses, the greater one's pleasure. A broad cognition enhances pleasure.
Let us say that we were to bring a drunkard the foods that he loves and play for him music that he loves while he was drunk. When he sobers up and is told about this he will be very upset that he was deprived of these pleasures due to his drunken state. When pleasure comes to a person while he is fully conscious, he appreciates it more fully. Preparing oneself for the sensation of pleasure and thinking about the contrasting lack of pleasure before the pleasure arrives heightens the pleasurable experience.
Foundations of Faith (51)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
48 - 49. True Faith Brings Trust in God
49 - 50. One Hundred Blessings
50 - 51. Beginning the Day
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An example of this is the blessing, "You have kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this point in time." Pronouncing this blessing awakens within a person joy over the life which he has been graced with by God, and for God's having brought him to this joyful occasion. By thanking God for life and understanding that life is a gift from God, it is easier to accept sickness, and even death, when the time comes. One will have already pondered carefully and concluded that he has been receiving gifts all along from God, and that he is really worthy of being deprived of all this goodness because, "you are dust" (Genesis 3:9).
But instead, God has benefited him with life and pleasure, and so he thanks Him. And when God removes life from such a person, he will thank God also. He will say, "God gave and God took away. May the name of God be blessed." In this way, his whole life will be filled with pleasure.
If one does not subscribe to this perspective, his pleasures are base and low, like those of an animal or a drunkard.
Blessings give profound expression to the meaning of things which man comes into relation with. Via blessings, each article and matter receives its specific and magnified value. One must of course be careful that habit and routine do not destroy one's intention and transform the blessing into insignificant and burdensome muttering, like a lifeless body. A body which is empty of life is heavy; a living body carries itself. The same is true of blessings. When they are recited with proper intention, they are "alive" and they support themselves - and the one who blesses. The blessings are not a burden but a pleasure and they bestow goodness, majesty, and gratification.
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Some of the text in the above article is taken from or based upon Rabbi N. Daniel Korobkin's translation of The Kuzari (Jason Aronson Inc.).
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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.
