YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Personality Development
- Pathways in Personality Development
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
One who loves God in such a manner can be likened to one who very strongly loves the wife of his youth, so much so that he finds joy and pleasure in merely speaking of her, or one who greatly loves his son. As Scripture states (Jeremiah 31:19), "For when I speak of him I will strongly remember him."
There is no question that one who truly loves his Creator will not leave off serving Him for any reason whatsoever. He will need no motivation or inducement to serve Him. His heart will elevate and motivate him to this end.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
36 - 35. Fear of God's Exalted Nature
37 - 37. Piety and the Love of God
38 - 38. Love and Devotion to God
Load More
Like one who is in the desert and longs for water, so would King David thirst for God, His Torah and His commandments, as it is written (ibid. 119:47), "I will take delight in Your commandments, which I love," and (ibid. 24), "Your commandments, also, are my delight . . . " Even when lying on his bed he would cling to God (Psalms 63:7): "In truth, I will remember You upon my couch; in the night watches I will think of You."
The true test of this love, of how deep and strong it is, comes in times of difficulty, times of distress and misfortune. Regarding this the sages say, " 'And you should love the Lord, Your God with all your heart and with all your soul' (Deuteronomy 6:5) - even if He takes your soul, 'and with all your might'- with all of your possessions."
One who truly loves the Almighty knows how to accept hardships lovingly, with an understanding that everything which God does is for the best, even the hardships. This may be likened to a surgeon who cuts an infected limb in order that the rest of the body become healthy and not perish. And though this act is seemingly cruel, it is in fact an act of mercy. Not only does the sick person not become angered by the physician who pains him, he actually thanks him, and blesses him, and loves him all the more for having healed him.
This is the way a person must relate to all of the hardships which befall him in life. He must understand that they are for his own good, and they themselves constitute a reason for loving the Almighty even more.
Someone on an even higher spiritual level needs no explanation as to why such hardship come, for he does not think of himself at all, and he needs no explanation regarding what befalls him or why. He is occupied solely with honoring God. His one desire is to bring pleasure to God and to magnify His sacred name.
When such a person encounters obstructions in his service of God and must struggle in order to overcome them, he becomes filled with even more energy and joy to demonstrate the potency of his love, like a choice officer who always seeks out the greatest challenge in order to reach his full military potential. In the same manner, those who love God with their entire heart want to give expression to their deep love by overcoming great trials.
---
Some of the translated material in the above article was taken from, or based upon, Feldheim's "The Path of the Just."
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.
