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Even when, presently, it is clear to an indiviual, that which he must do, and that which is proper to do, still, laziness can overcome him. "Perhaps," he reasons, "it is best, at any rate, to sleep a little bit more in order to gather up strength before I set out. If I sleep I will feel that much more refreshed later on; perhaps I will be able to perform my task more effectively, with greater clarity of mind." All of these explanations, though, are really nothing more than excuses, and if he does goes to sleep, he will no doubt doze off for a long time, will set out late, and in the end won't manage to complete everything he should have. "It is hot today," he says, "much too hot - it's better not to go out," or, "It's too cold, raining, dangerous - better to stay indoors," "I just finished removing my jacket, why should I go through the trouble of putting it on again?" One has to make himself aware of this tendency. One must overcome this negative quality - laziness - and develop instead the quality of zerizut , alacrity in the fulfillment of one's obligations - "Those who posses zerizut," tell us the sages, "race to fulfill the commandments."
The angels were blessed with this praiseworthy quality. Concerning them it says: "Mighty in power, they do His word, to listen to the voice of his word." They do His word even before hearing his word. "And the living creatures (i.e. angels) ran and returned, as streaks of lightning." True, man is no angel, and it is therefore impossible for him to ever attain the sort of strength that an angel possesses, yet certainly he must strive to come as close as possible to reaching this level. When it came to zerizut, King David would take great pride, saying: "I was quick. I did not delay in keeping Your mitzvoth,"
Zerizut, as we have mentioned, can be learned from the angels. It can, though, as a matter of fact, also be learned from the animals. This is evidenced by the words of the sages: "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."
Yet how does one actualize this quality, the quality of zerizut? The answer is that one should make a principle of never putting off a mitzvah. As the sages say, "When a mitzvah presents itself, don't put it off." When it comes time to perform a particular mitzvah or a mitzvah happens to presents itself - if one even considers performing a particular mitzvah, one should hurry and act quickly to carry it out without any delay and not put it off for even a short amount of time. In every hesitation there lies the danger that perhaps some delaying factor will suddenly appear, preventing the performance of the good act. Concerning this the sages have already noted, with regards to the crowning of King Solomon, that when King David told Benayahu the son of Yehoyada to crown Solomon his son under him - to take Solomon down to the Gihon River and anoint him there as king over Israel - Benayahu answered, saying: "Amen, let God say so." The sages asked: "What was this prayer? Had not it already been said that Solomon would be the one to rule?" The sages, though, explained: "Many a prosecutor will appear between here and the Gihon." That is, if an act is not carried out immediately, who knows what sort of disturbances will appear and prevent it's being carried out at all.
The quality of zerizut, then, means that every mitzvah which presents itself must be carried out immediately. "When a mitzvah presents itself, don't put it off."
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
5 - 5. Overcoming Weaknesses
6 - 6. "Zerizut" - Its Practical Application
7 - 7. Starting and Maintaining "Zerizut"
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
