YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Ein Ayah
Gemara: "What else is written in [the Torah]?" "Respect your father and your mother" (Shemot 20:11). "Do you have a father and a mother?"
Ein Ayah: This family connection [of parents and children] represents purification, when the spiritual and physical realms overlap with the creation of life and the chain of generations. Matters of ideals join together with natural tendencies. Matters of the lowly earth and the lofty heavens form one unit. On top of all of this, there is an imprint of the grandeur of life of a unity that is representative of Hashem’s own greatness. [Ed. note - The last sentence was shortened because I did not know how to translate it responsibly.]
This entire moral phenomenon can only be realized in such a complete way within the human family. The relationship of parents to their children and children to their parents, in the purest form, in which the finest spiritual form is connected to its physical expressions, in a way that makes the foundation of life [i.e., procreation], with its palpable coarseness, more gentle. This becomes even more holy with the existence of a commandment to honor a father and a mother. It is only within the human family that such a divine moral imperative can find expression. The relationships involved are, on the one hand, separated from the related deep physicality and, on the other hand, are not applicable to the Heavenly creatures who are full of intellectuality and know only of a life of purity. The Torah, which is designed to turn darkness into light and that which is related to death into fine life, filled with grandeur, can only be given to people, not to angels who do not have parents.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
