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He shall read from [the Torah] all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear Hashem" (Devarim 17:19). There is no amount of time that we can say suffices to learn all the Torah that we should. The study that we need to pull out of ourselves cannot be given a set amount of time, small or large. We require concentration all the time, our entire lives – no less than that. Studying partially, sometimes, cannot bring us close to the goal. Learning to fear is a course of study for one’s whole life, not just for simple people but even for the greatest of people.
There are two types of fear, one is desirable and one is undesirable, and both are found in our parasha. The fear of G-d is desirable and needs to be studied, not for a matter of hours but for one’s whole life. The undesirable type is the man who is too afraid to take part in battle (ibid. 20:8). Just as we are to toil to acquire the first, we are to toil to remove the other. The two are also contradictory, and the stronger the positive one is, the weaker the negative one becomes.
"Who are you that you should be afraid of a mortal man?" (Yeshayahu 51:12). Negative fear does not appear only at the time of war, but in peacetime too. Most of our actions are motivated by our great desire to escape things that scare us. The gemara (Menachot 103b) says that the collapse of confidence at the time of "divine rebuke" refers to "one who has to rely on the baker." We are always afraid. What will we eat tomorrow, the next day, and later in the future. This feeling is the doing of the Satan. A person wants to know he has shoes for seven years when he does not know he will be alive for more than seven days. This makes the Satan laugh at him.
We are afraid of that which is distant and that which is near, lest they put pressure on us and infringe on our lives. A baby can be born on the other side of the world, and we feel it can take something away from us in the distant future. It turns out that we toil so much for that which we do not need, but just to have as extras – nice clothes, fancy drapes, etc. All of that difficult work is just because of what others might say. This is a fear of a mortal person.
The Torah instructs us to not be intimidated by people, and this gives us the mindset of a free person. The Torah writes about a king that he should learn to fear Hashem. The gemara (Horayot 11a) describes a king as one who has no one "above" him other than Hashem. Bnei Yisrael are called "the sons of kings," so this should apply to the nation as a whole. Whoever does not internalize fear of Hashem will be afraid of a falling leaf. Only the proper fear is what will give us a firm backbone. If we lower our posture before Hashem, we can stand straight before others.
"He who is afraid and has a weak heart" regarding going to battle refers to fear of his own sins (Sota 8:5). Someone who is disrespectful to his Maker and does not see Him as the Master will acquire for himself hundreds and thousands of human masters.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
