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Yaakov Ben Behora
This is a misconception which stems from superficial understanding, and it is damaging because such an erroneous approach defames the spirit of piety in the eyes of the public. Such actions do have a place for penitents or the abstinent when used in the proper proportions, but there is a vast gulf between this and piety.
In order to understand correctly the trait of piety one needs great wisdom, as the sages teach, "An ignoramus cannot be a saint." Without studying Torah it is impossible to be pious. Piety has its root in what the Sages say: "Fortunate is the man whose toil is in Torah and gives pleasure to his Creator." He is like a son who loves his father and wants to bring him pleasure, wants things to be good for him.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
30 - 30. Proper Intention When Serving God
31 - 31. The Service of the Pious
32 - 32. The Root of the Trait of Piety
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The same is true regarding partners, between husband and wife. Wherever there is affection between two people they strive to bring happiness to one another. They are not satisfied with merely fulfilling mutual obligations but wish to do things they are not obligated to do. The one is happy to do whatever brings happiness to the other.
And this is the way a person acts when he possesses unwavering love for God. He is not satisfied with merely carrying out explicit commands, but strives to understand God's underlying desire. For such a person, the Torah's commandments are tantamount to a outer expression of God's inner desire. Via the commandments a person is capable of understanding what the Almighty truly wants, even if He does not explicitly command so. Obviously he does not perform the commandment out of habit, but rather with an inner desire, and therefore he performs them as perfectly as possible, swiftly and correctly.
This is true piety. Piety is not reflected in strange mystical practices, self-affliction, numerous fasts, etc. A person who sees such practices is repulsed by them, for they neither possess wisdom nor reflect true service of God. Though it is proper for penitents to be embittered by their transgressions, and such suffering cleanses them, this must by done in fitting proportions.
True piety consists, then, of a broad fulfillment of commandments in all of their aspects and in the proper conditions, with an earnest intention to bring pleasure to the Creator.
Piety is a type of abstinence. Yet there is a difference between the two: Abstinence calls for separating oneself completely from transgression, even from matters which merely resemble transgression. Piety, on the other hand, means performing anything which even resembles a commandment, even if it is not an outright commandment. It means striving to decipher the hidden from the explicit, to bring pleasure to the Creator.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
