Lessons on Texts of Jewish Thought

Defense vs. Lashon HaRah
The Speaker, the Spoken & the Receiver via Rav Kook's New Account of Mephiboshet
Rav Kook analyzes the deeper problem of Lashon HaRa and how it changes a person to being more pessimistic and suspicious and other problematic character traits. On the other hand, kings and governments deal with issues where the stakes are so high, they must be suspicious and cautious, balancing it with optimism, morality etc. There are many ramifications here for the modern State of Israel. Rav Kook is at his innovative best suggesting several great new ways of looking at things and at understanding several stories regarding King David.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | 12 Shevat 5784

Orchot Tzadikim, class 49, "Generosity" part ii
Other aspects of the character trait of "generosity", including how much must one pay for each mitzvah, what is the maximum, and how much to add to do a mitzvah in a finer way (Mehadrin). It's important to be generous in business, to protect your reputation. When to be careful of those who take advantage of your generosity?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | 5 Shevat 5784

The Severity of Lashon Harah But It's (Surprising!) Necessity for Leaders
Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 66
Rav Kook analyzes the deeper problem of Lashon HaRa and how it changes a person to being more pessimistic and suspicious and other problematic character traits. On the other hand, kings and governments deal with issues where the stakes are so high, they must be suspicious and cautious, balancing it with optimism, morality etc. There are many ramifications here for the modern State of Israel. Rav Kook is at his innovative best suggesting several great new ways of looking at things and at understanding several stories regarding King David.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | 5 Shevat 5784

Practical Tricks How Not to Accept Gossip by Giving the Benefit of the Doubt
Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 65
Rav Kook explains the Talmud which says that even if King David sinned by Uriah & BatSheva, he would not sin to accept gossip. This class deals with 21 concrete ideas on how to practically achieve that status that we automatically don't accept Lashon HaRah, by adopting the habit of giving the benefit of the doubt.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | 27 Tevet 5784

Orchot Tzaddikim class 48, Generosity part i
Rabbi Ari Shvat | 22 Tevet 5784

Orchot Tzaddikim class 48, Laziness part iii
Rabbi Ari Shvat | 20 Tevet 5784

"Will Mashiach be More 'Dictator', 'President' or 'Prime Minister'?"
Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 63
Rav Kook's innovative explanation of the Talmud regarding Uriah's sin in rebelling against King David, also consciously deals with his opinion regarding the type of government which Machiach is meant to lead, where he clearly will not be a dictator, but also not a prime minister. Rav Kook clearly agrees with his rebbe, the Netziv (Devarim 17, 14-15), who wrote that the form of government, whether democratic or a king, must be according to the popular will of the Jewish people. There are clearly ramifications as well regarding the modern democratic State of Israel which Rav Kook saw developing after the Balfour Declaration and founding of the nascent Knesset Yisrael.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | 13 Tevet 5784
