YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Personality Development
- Pathways in Personality Development
When it comes to matters which are subject to rabbinic dispute, the pious individual will follow the more stringent position and sway clear of all doubt or discrepancy. However, it is precisely here that a truly pious person must be on guard. He must be careful that his stringent practices do not lead him to belittle rabbis and Torah scholars who rule leniently, nor those who rely upon these lenient authorities.
A person's own stringencies are only matters of piety, but the prohibition against belittling Torah scholars is an actual and serious transgression. The difference between an ordinary and a top-rate ("mehadrin") kosher permit generally lies in a rabbinic dispute; belittling Torah scholars, on the other hand, is a full-fledged Torah prohibition. True piety calls for honoring all rabbis and venerating them, because honoring them is like honoring the Torah itself.
Pathways in Personality Development (52)
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
42 - 42. Fitting Admonition
43 - 43. Cautiously Stringent
44 - 44. Tales of the Sages
Load More
R' Tarfon said, "I was once walking along the road and I reclined in order to recite the 'Shema' in accordance with the opinion of the school of Shammai, thus exposing myself to the danger of robbers." They said to him, "You deserved to come to harm for acting against the words of the school of Hillel" (Mishnah, Berachot 1:3). They said this even though R' Tarfon behaved stringently in accordance with the school of Shammai.
Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto explains that there was a great dispute between the schools of Hillel and Shammai, and it was very trying for the Jewish people. Eventually the dispute ceased and it was decided that the law would follow the ruling of the school of Hillel forever. The existence of the Torah depends on this ruling remaining in effect forever and not losing its strength in the slightest, that the Torah not be split in two, Heaven forbid.
According to this Mishnah, then, the more pious path is to abide by the ruling of the school of Hillel. Ramchal concludes, "This should serve us as a guide to perceive the path where light resides with truth and faith for the doing of what is just in the eyes of God."
In the days of R' Kook, the Rebbe of Gur visited the land of Israel. These two rabbis met, R' Kook and the Rebbe of Gur, and during their meeting some untithed fruits of the Land of Israel were brought before the Rebbe of Gur in order to give him the privilege of separating terumot and ma'asrot (offerings and tithes).
R' Kook said to the Rebbe of Gur that because it was the first time he had ever fulfilled this commandment, he should bless "she'hecheyanu." The Rebbe, however, was of the opinion that he should not recite this blessing. They deliberated this matter for some time, and finally the Rebbe of Gur said, "If the Rabbi of Jerusalem says to bless, then this is what must be done," and he blessed "she'hecheyanu." This, then, is an example of true piety.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
