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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.
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
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.
