YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Personality Development
- Pathways in Personality Development
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Asher Ben Haim
On the one hand, regarding those who behave in such a manner, the Sages say, "Are the Torah's prohibitions not enough for you that you have decided to take on additional prohibitions?" On the other hand, the Sages teach: "Sanctify yourself through that which is permitted to you."
On the one hand, the Sages teach that in the future a person will have to give an account before the Almighty for whatever his eyes saw and he did not want to eat, even though it was permitted to him. If he denies himself this, he will have to give an accounting, because a person needs to enjoy, and for this reason enjoyable things were created.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
25 - 25. The Pursuit of Honor
26 - 26. abstinence and Permissible Pleasures
27 - 27. Abstinence and Permissible Pleasures (Cont.)
Load More
From the Sages we learn that there is good abstinence and bad abstinence. Abstaining from necessities is a negative character trait, but abstaining from that which is unnecessary is an admirable character trait. Regarding a person who occupies much of his time fasting and as a result becomes weak, unhappy, bitter, critical, and tense, the Sages teach: "One who sits in fasting is called a sinner." Such fasting only causes damage and has no positive value.
Yet some people are strong and healthy, and fasting, rather than weakening them, uplifts them, makes them feel purer, more spiritual, freeing them from dependency upon food. Regarding such people, the Sages say, "One who engages in fasting is called holy." This is because when such a person refrains from bodily matters while fasting he not only distances himself from the physical, he also elevates the spirit, adding sanctity. And a fast that adds sanctity is positive.
Excessive abstinence from consumption is undesirable abstinence, as is the denial of that which is needed for the body and the soul. On the other hand, overeating is also detrimental to the body and soul. abstinence from that which is unnecessary and from overindulgence is a positive trait, not only because such behavior is unhealthy from a physical standpoint, but because any time a person pursues the unnecessary, he paves the way for violating prohibitions. The reason for this is that when a person pursues pleasure, if he does not find a permissible way to fulfill his desires, he will be drawn to forbidden things.
This is true with regard to foods and relations alike. If a person becomes carried away with permissible pleasures, the attraction gradually increases until it is difficult to maintain a clear distinction between the forbidden and the permissible.
The need to distance oneself from tendencies that can lead to prohibitions is not the only reason that a person should abstain from even permissible pleasures. The pursuit of pleasure per se restricts a person and makes him a slave to his urges, while the right kind of abstinence frees a person from such constraints.
What this means is that a person is not permitted to abstain from those things which strengthen him, make him happy, and improve his state of mind. If a person does abstain from such things, he will have to account for his behavior before the Almighty, for these pleasant things were created for the very purpose of bringing pleasure to human beings.
Yet, a person must keep himself from going overboard, even with permissible pleasures, because going overboard with permissible pleasures does not make a person happy. It in fact entices a person to violate prohibitions. It weakens rather than strengthens a person, destroys rather than improves his state of mind.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
