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Beit Midrash
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- Pathways in Personality Development
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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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
