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The most famous answer is found in the gemara (Shabbat 32a): "This one was suited from the sixth days of creation to fall … but meritorious matters are arranged to involve meritorious people and tragedies are arranged to involve culpable people." The simple explanation is that a given person who was supposed to die would have died anyway, but it is better for the homeowner that he should die in some different way, or if by falling from someone’s roof, let it not be his roof. The Kli Yakar adds on (in the name of "some say") to the approach that what is supposed to happen will happen anyway, as follows. Possibly, the person who needs to fall will fall from the very house that he was supposed to – despite the fence. He continues to explain the rationale of the mitzva according to this – "the fence saves only he who was not fit to fall." It is not clear if he means that the saved person would not have fallen or that he would have fallen elsewhere or died in another way, assuming it was not destined how and where he would die.
The Sefer Hachinuch (mitzva 546) relates to a different philosophical possibility. He posits that great people are above the rules of nature, allowing such tzaddikim as Avraham and Chananya, Mishael, and Azaria to escape alive from furnaces. Most people, though, will be harmed if they are in situations that nature dictates will cause harm. He quotes Chazal as saying that when one relies upon a miracle, he does not receive the miracle. The gemara (Shabbat 32a) adds on that if he does merit a miracle, the miracle is reduced from his merits. Thus, posits the Sefer Hachinuch, if one stands on a roof without a fence, he may die even if he was not slated to die. This is in line with Tosafot (Ketubot 30a) who says that one should not put himself in a dangerous situation, "for certainly a person is able to kill himself."
These Rishonim extend the idea of not "relying on a miracle." It does not take a miracle to spend time on roof without a fence and not fall (I have been on my roof many times and was never saved by the fence). Rather, the fence just reduces the risk a little more. They posit apparently that if 1,000 Jews (not tzaddikim like Avraham) without a decree to die decide to ignore proper safety precautions and enter a 1/100 chance of death situation, approximately 10 will die from it. This is an important opinion to consider for those who, to use just a couple of examples, drive less carefully than they should, smoke, eat unhealthily, or ignore the risks of dangerous infectious diseases.
Parashat Hashavua Unfortunate Disbelief in the Coexistence of Opposites
1988 – from Siach Shaul, p. 388-390
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
