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The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Rachel Bat Yakut
The Torah predicates itself upon a human being’s freedom of choice. Judaism does not believe or preach any items of predestination. Nevertheless, it is obvious that many things can influence that human being’s freedom of choice. By realizing that humans begin essentially from a minus position regarding their character traits and behavior, the necessity for self-improvement becomes obvious. All of the myriad tyrants, murderers, criminals and evil people of history and our current world began as cute cuddly little babies. Selfishness is tolerated from babies. But when one reaches physical maturity, such behavior is anti-social and evil. All of the values and commandments of the Torah came to help people grow and mature spiritually and psychologically. How one will apply the lessons of Torah to one’s own life and behavior is also a matter of freedom of choice. The inherent evil within us can twist all apparently good traits and use them for destructive and selfish ends. The rabbis always advised humans to not only analyze and correct one’s mistakes and bad behavior but one’s "good" deeds as well. For as all of the prayers of Yom Kippur indicated to us, our beginnings were tainted and the evil inclination still lurks deeply within our character.
Our rabbis pondered the necessity for the evil inclination, for selfishness and self-gratification, to be present within us at all. The Talmud relates to us that at the time of the great Ezra the Jewish leaders "trapped" the evil inclination and put out one of its eyes, however we will understand that metaphor. Therefore the rampant paganism that was present in First Temple times was greatly reduced amongst Jews in Second Temple times. The Talmud then asks why they did not put out the other eye as well. It answers that upon attempting to do so they realized that a hen would not continue to lay eggs and that the world as we know it could no longer function and exist. The evil inclination can be turned to positive uses. It must be disciplined, checked and reined in, and not be allowed to dominate human life and behavior. Nevertheless, since it is so ingrained within us, the Torah sought to channel it and redirect its goals but never to completely destroy its presence within us. Judaism teaches that by recognizing our beginnings we recognize the limitations and dangers that lurk within us. Only by recognizing them and admitting their presence can we then take the counter measures necessary to deal with those shortcomings and weaknesses. All beginnings are difficult. But ignoring those beginnings and not dealing with them correctly, judiciously and in a timely fashion makes life even more difficult for us and for others as well. The great holiday season just passed is a reminder to us as to our beginnings and the beginning of the world as we know it and our challenge to improve that world and ourselves.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
