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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
R. Avraham Ben David
The sages said: "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion, to do the will of your Father in heaven."
Most of us are eager to do good deeds, yet this calls for effort, and many are lazy about getting up early in the morning. To wake up and to get out of bed is not easy, and although it's very important to get up quickly so that there be enough time to complete everything that needs to be done; even though each added moment of tardiness adds pressure, for it leaves one unable to complete everything he must; in spite of the fact that one understands and recognizes the importance of hurrying to get up - it is difficult. Laziness weighs one down. Concerning this the sages said: "Be strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in heaven." One must develop faculties of strength like those of a lion - the king of the jungle: the sort of strength which enables one to overcome all laziness, to overcome the sluggishness which prevents one from doing what he wants to do - what he thinks is right and important to do. Faculties of this sort, one must develop on his own.
And just how does one go about forming faculties of strength like these? By performing exercises which build up one's strength, and by a making a firm descision to succeed.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
4 - 4. The Impact of Man's Actions on the World
5 - 5. Overcoming Weaknesses
6 - 6. "Zerizut" - Its Practical Application
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Concerning laziness, sluggishness and lethargy, the sages said: "Be light as an eagle and swift as a deer." Push away the sluggishness and the laziness - be swift and zealous.
So - two types of faculties need to be established: firstly, the ability to restrain oneself, to overcome difficulties, and to refuse to be drawn after one's desires. Secondly - just the opposite - the ability to overcome laziness, and the capacity to act quickly and energetically in carrying out one's obligations.
The attribute of laziness is no less detestable than that of lust. True, a lazy person does not actively carry out evil, yet he brings evil upon himself through his passivity. King Solomon, in the book of Proverbs, attests to this: "Also one who slackens in his work is a brother to the destroyer." For, though he is not the destroyer himself, doing evil with his own hands, don't think that he is far from him - he is, in fact, his blood-brother. Even one who slackens in his work is brother to the destroyer. For, when a person slackens in his work, one weakness leads to another. He doesn't exert himself, and so naturally he lingers behind the others, whether in studies or work. This causes despair, which results in his exerting himself even less, and so he continues to descend. A person who doesn't learn well doesn't know what to do, this leads to mistakes which bring about failure. Therefore, one must push away weaknesses and overcome his laziness: "Be light as an eagle and swift as a deer to do the will of your Father in heaven."
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
