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Beit Midrash
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Ein Ayah: The tendency toward idol worship stems from the natural lowliness within a person, which is intermingled with the essence of evil and unsightliness within his physicality. As long as the entire world has not been purified from its spirit of impurity, a venom lying in hiding will remain. Even when the light of holiness and goodness increases, evil is not eradicated. Rather, it goes into a state of sleep, from which it can be awoken even during days that the light of truth and goodness is shining. This is a sense of disgrace for people, testimony to the lacking found in the nature of the human spirit. Indeed, the painful impurities were not totally removed from its foundation, as the readiness to do evil remains intact.
Where does the source of evil, which enables the inclination toward idol worship to sprout forth even after the nation reached great spiritual heights, come from? Should it not have been overcome, considering that it comes from man’s low point, and the nation already experienced such light and their hearts were touched with love and purity by Hashem at Sinai?
The foundation of evil was not found in the essence of the Israelite spirit, for this was already pure and went beyond the general lowliness from which the rest of humanity suffered. However, the advantage that they had was stored deep, in hidden elements of the soul. The great spiritual present that Israel received in recognizing Hashem, needed to be hidden in something that found expression in modesty and in personal contemplation. Then, when it would take hold internally, impacting on all life powers, it could emerge to the surface and be seen by all in the actions that the people would carry out.
However, the danger is that there is a strong desire to have the internal spirituality appear immediately in life by connecting the divine content to palpable actions and outward symbols. This desire to be able to publicize the spirituality at the wrong time can prevent the purity and awaken the spiritual filth connected to the venom of the desire for idolatry to raise up its ugly head. This is the secret of the sin of the Golden Calf. It stemmed from the haste of the desire of the masses to publicize its spirituality that stemmed from the light of the revelation at Sinai.
When the "king is still in his party," even hidden love suffices to fill the soul with excitement. There is no need to spread perfume to all the directions. When the approach was distorted to the point that there was a feeling that the perfume had to be given out, and to publicize that which was hidden within the spirit, then the troubles began. The public element of it united the deterioration that everybody suffered and prevented the recognition of the divine to orchestrate over the nation’s spiritual life and purify the whole world with its clear light.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
