articles on Texts of Jewish Thought
Lessons on Texts of Jewish Thought
Orchot Tzaddikim class 71, Teshuva part ii
The class deals with 7 reasons why not to delay one's Teshuva, and 7 additional aspects which make Teshuva challenging.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 5786
The Neurotics of the Exile Mentality & Fear of Change
Rav Kook ingeniously explains this difficult aggadita about "Sandal Messumar", relating to the problem of "Fear of the Unknown", and the Exile Mentality, where fear becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. This analysis has many current ramifications regarding the individual and Israel's relationship with her enemies, as well as with America, and how to deal with anti-Semitism today in America, Europe and Australia.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 5786
Orchot Tzaddikim- class 70, Teshuva part i
This class begins the new topic of Teshuva, discussing the greatness and need, the easiness and the difficulty involved. There is also an interesting aside relating to the greatness and importance of Yerushalayim, including a classic story told by Rav Soloveichik.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 5786
Taming the Inner Wild: Rav Kook and Harnessing the Power of Imagination
"Imagination" and "thinking out of the box" is one of the keys to success in hi-tech, music, art and western culture in general. Rav Kook deals here with the kabbalistic image of imagination as the "heel" or lower part of spirituality, which generally needs guarding and protection (symbolized by the shoes). On the other hand, he explains that this "breaking out of frameworks" is a necessary part of the process of redemption and modern creativity, and even the basis for the revival of prophecy.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 5786
Decree" Come True? Rav Kook on Da'as Torah
One of the points of disagreement between most Hassidim and Misnagdim is regarding the g'mara in Masechet Shabbat: what does it mean that a "Tzaddik decrees and G-d will fulfill!" Similarly, there are various opinions about the significance of "Da'as Torah", regarding how much to ask rabbis & what is their "power" regarding mundane non-halachic issues. As always, Rav Kook has an interesting "take" on this.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Cheshvan 5786
Orchot Tzaddikim class 68, "Speech" part iv
It's especially problematic to scare children, and "I was only joking" is not an excuse for Lashon HaRah. Similarly, the concept of "it takes one to know one" should encourage people not to talk bad about others, for you may be "projecting" your own faults. Today's class also (somewhat) reveals the identity of the author of Orchot Tzaddikim, for he (as previously!) holds like the maverick opinion of the Smag regarding giving others the benefit of the doubt, which he holds is a Torah prohibition! He also holds that revealing a secret, even after many years, is also a Torah prohibition.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Cheshvan 5786
Whose Torah? When to do Shlichut?
This class continues the previous one (Ain Aya Shabbat vi, 4 regarding many other factors which we need to take into account when weighing our own (or childrens' or students') learning, which often comes into conflict regarding the learning of others or weaker students, or teaching as compared with our own Torah study.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Cheshvan 5786
