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Our sedra of Re’eh contains what I call the "elastic clause" of Judaism: "Do what is good & right in the eyes of Hashem." Now, we had this very same directive just two parshiyot ago, in Va’etchanan, so apparently G-d & Moshe felt that it needed to be repeated & reinforced.
But these words, lovely as they may be, are oblique. What, after all, is "good," & what is "right?" Any 10 people will give you widely-varying interpretations, because everyone has an opinion of what constitutes Good & Right. Indeed, I would suggest that is why the Torah is so detailed, with so many Mitzvot in every field, in both the written & the oral law. Add the rabbinic commandments, decrees (g’zeirot) & binding minhagim, & everything is spelled out so that nothing is left to chance.
Now, some commentaries DO try to define this "good and right" clause. Rashi says it means we should try to reach a compromise in any inter-personal dispute & give others the benefit of the doubt rather than assume the worst. The Sifrei says we should conduct ourselves in a manner that meets with the approval of Hashem – who is called "Tov" – as well as our fellow human being. The Ramban interprets this as looking out for the welfare of our neighbor, recognizing that he is no less a creation of the Almighty than you are.
But I think the message goes beyond any one particular action. Hashem is telling us that He can only legislate so much, & list only so many do’s & don’ts. At some point, we’re going to have to gain a general understanding of how we should behave, an inner knowledge that this is the way G-d would want us to act in any given situation.
In Yiddish, we call this seychel, the 5th, unwritten volume of the Shulchan Aruch. It is the manifestation of all of our book learning, the net product of the wisdom & insight we’ve ingested through the years. In short, it is the secret ingredient that turns a man into a mentsch.
Rav Moshe Feinstein, the great 20th century posek, not only had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Torah, he had a unique insight into human nature & behavior that went beyond the words on a page. This allowed him to see "the whole picture" when decided a case. As an example, he ruled twice on the minimum height of a synagogue mechitza; once putting it at 60 inches, another time at half that. Asked how he could contradict himself, he answered: "The questions, you see, were asked by two different groups. One was a non-Orthodox shul turning Orthodox, the other an Orthodox shul becoming more liberal. My answer depends which way the Mechitza is heading; if it’s on the way up, it may start small & eventually grow. But if it’s on the way down, it must stay at its full height!" Saychel.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
