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Rachel Bat Asher
It is true that the Almighty does not need honor, but we, from our standpoint, must serve God as adamantly and impeccably as possible. In this respect, our sages have already exhorted us (Shabbat 133b): " 'This is my God and I will adorn Him' (Exodus 15:2) - i.e., adorn yourself before Him with commandments: with attractive tzitzit, attractive tefillin, an attractive Torah scroll, an attractive lulav . . . " And further (Baba Kamma 9b): "A person should expend up to an extra third for the sake of beautifying a mitzvah (commandment)."
If a person can choose between two Torah scrolls, he should be willing to spend a third more for the more attractive of the two. "Anything up to this point is paid for by him, and anything beyond it, by the Almighty." That is, if a person adds more than a third for the sake of beautifying a mitzvah, not only does the principle remain intact for him in the World to Come, but he even enjoys in this world the fruits of whatever he invested in the mitzvah.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
34 - 34. Lovingkindness
35 - 36. The Adornment of Religious Performance
36 - 35. Fear of God's Exalted Nature
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Esau felt that it would be inappropriate to serve his father in anything but regal garments. And if a creature of flesh and blood is served in this manner, how much more so should one take care to be dressed respectfully when standing in prayer before the King of Kings, the Holy One Blessed be He. One should sit before Him as one sits before a great king.
This applies, inter alia, to Sabbaths and Festivals. When a person honors these days he is certainly giving pleasure thereby to his Creator, for He has commanded us (Isaiah 58:13): "If you restrain your foot because of the Sabbath, from pursuing your business on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable; and you should honor it . . . " It is for this reason that the early sages occupied themselves with preparations for the Sabbath and did not merely rely upon the preparations of other household members.
For example, "R' Safra would roast the head of an animal. Rava would salt a carp; R' Huna would kindle a flame; R' Papa would twist a wick; R' Chisda minced beets; Rava and R' Yosef would split wood; R' Nachman would carry things in and out of the house, saying, 'If R' Ami and R' Asi were my guests, would I not perform such labors for them?' " (Shabbat 119a). This, then, is how one must prepare for the Sabbath.
We similarly find (ibid.) that R' Anan wore a simple garment on the eve of the Sabbath so that the honor of the Sabbath would be more pronounced upon his donning beautiful garments for it. This served to underscore the difference between the mundane week days and the holy Sabbath.
And the Sabbath serves as a paradigm for all of the other commandments. In our own day, the adornment of religious performance should no longer be limited to unique and pious individuals. The improved standard of living obligates each of us to adopt this approach. Today, most people are able to buy quality clothing and furniture. Many purchase attractive homes and put much time and money into maintaining and improving them. This should be all the more true when it comes to the commandments of the Torah. A person should be willing to invest in the adornment and perfection of religious performance.
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Some of the above translation was taken from or based upon Feldheim's "The Path of the Just."
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.
