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Rachel Bat Asher
Let's consider some of the words of the sages regarding lovingkindness:
R. Simlai learned, "The Torah begins and ends with lovingkindness. It begins with lovingkindness, as it is written, 'For Adam and for his wife the Lord God made coats of skins, and clothed them' (Genesis 3:21), and it ends with lovingkindness, 'And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab' " (Deuteronomy 34:6). The Almighty occupied himself with the burial of Moses (Sotah 14a).
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
33 - 33. More on the Trait of Piety
34 - 34. Lovingkindness
35 - 36. The Adornment of Religious Performance
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And just what is lovingkindness? Lovingkindness means bestowing goodness upon others with one's own body. "Lovingkindness is greater than charity in three ways: Charity is performed with one's wealth, and lovingkindness with one's body; charity is given to the poor, and lovingkindness to rich and poor alike; charity is given only to the living, and lovingkindness to the living and the dead alike" (Yevamot 79a).
R' Eleazar said, "Lovingkindness is greater than charity, as it says (Hosea 10:12), 'Sow for yourselves with charity and reap with lovingkindness.' When a person sows it is not certain that he will also eat. When a person reaps it is certain that he will also eat."
The sages also teach (Shabbath 1516): " 'And He will give you mercy and He will have mercy upon you' (Deuteronomy 13:18) - Heaven is merciful to all who have mercy upon their fellow creatures." This is self-evident, for since the Holy One Blessed be He pays measure for measure, one who is merciful towards his fellow creatures and treats them with lovingkindness is deserving of mercy and absolution of his sins in lovingkindness. Our Sages of blessed memory thus say (Rosh Hashanah 17a), "Whose sins does He forgive? The sins of one who overlooks an injustice committed against him."
If a person is willing to forgive others for their sins, he too will be forgiven. And if a person is unwilling to forgo his claims or to act with lovingkindness, it follows that he, too, is to be treated only in accordance with strict justice. Who could abide it if the Holy One Blessed be He acted on the basis of justice alone? King David thus prayed (Psalms 143:2), "Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no living creature will be found righteous before You."
One who engages in lovingkindness will receive lovingkindness, and he will receive it in proportion to the extent that he engages in it. David exulted in possessing this good trait to the extent that he sought the good even of those who hated him (ibid. 35:13), "When they were sick, I put on sackcloth; I tortured my soul with fasting," i.e., when my foes were sick, I would wear sackcloth and fast on their behalf.
According to the Ramchal these statements are sufficient to awaken the inner nature embedded in every Jew to perform lovingkindness, promote pleasantness, and avoid causing others any hardship.
Included in this category of piety is not causing pain to any creature - even animals - and showing mercy and pity towards them. As it is stated (Proverbs 12:10), "The righteous man knows the soul of his beast." There are those who hold (Shabbath 128b) that the Torah itself prohibits the causing of pain to animals, but in any event, it is at least a Rabbinical prohibition.
And so we have seen that lovingkindness is a matter of central importance to the pious.
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Much of the above translation was taken from or based upon Feldheim's "The Path of the Just"
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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.