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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Ein Ayah: If one wants to light up the light of the soul with purity, so that it will be able to reach its goal of elevated life, one needs to first wage war against the blind power that dwells within a person, i.e., the power of physical evil. This power is liable to spread through the whole world of creations. When he uproots the power of darkness and prevents it from taking its normal actions, as a person removes his interests from bad things because he realizes how they are detrimental, he is ready for change. Then, when the flame of holiness comes to illuminate and the light of Torah brings life to the world, life becomes complete without the Satan and other dangerous things impeding the light’s clarity. According to this educational approach, first one has to attack the power of evil to uproot and weaken it, and then the spirit with the sanctity of Torah and knowledge of the divine comes to enlighten. The advantage of this system is that when the spiritual clarity comes forth, it is clean and refined.
However, there is also another approach, according to which one strives to use even the power of evil for the purpose of the lofty divine goal. Thereby, he does not go forth to first uproot the power of evil, but to try to light the soul with a complete light of sanctity. If there are pieces of impurity within the life of evil, it does not prevent the light from being absorbed. Rather it increases the positive when even the powers of evil are harnessed for good. Only if at the end there are elements of evil that cannot be purified by the great light, then the person has to turn to those remnants and eradicate them.
According to the first approach, Hashem first told the people about the punishment for sin, to shock them into removing the evil tendency to sin so that the venom of evil will not ruin the light and goodness. Only afterward did Hashem share the elements of reward for good actions. But according to the second approach, Hashem first told about the reward and only later went on to the punishment for evil actions. That is because the power of life is so great that it can purify that which is bad and enslave it to the service of good. Only in regard to that which remained of the evil there was later a discussion of the punishment for bad actions. These are matters that are as hard as sinews. Finally, the power of good is complete, powerful, and pure.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
