articles on Texts of Jewish Thought
Lessons on Texts of Jewish Thought
Orchot Tzaddikim class 74, "Teshuva" part vi
The class deals with not "resting on one's laurels", and that not a few people who lived their entire lives idealistically, "lost it" upon getting older. Similarly the importance of not focusing on luxuries but on the necessities of life.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 5786
Seemingly 'Strange' Rabbinical Decrees- Not What You Thought!
Rav Kook suggests a very innovative and important "eye-opening" way to understand some of the rabbinical decrees which are particularly difficult to understand!
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 5786
Orchot Tzaddikim class 74, "Teshuva" part v
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 5786
Positive Chutzpah= Part of Redemption- Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself!
Rav Kook ingeniously explains why the Mishna in Sotah, already 1,800 years ago, teaches that "Chutzpah" is an essential part of the Ge'ula process, and in fact today we see the necessity and positive aspect of "Israeli Chutzpah". Similarly, Rav Kook elaborates in his classic article on "Fear", how Galut (exile) refined but softened us a little too much, and how exaggerated fear and phobia is one of the worst things in life, preventing people from thinking, activism, modernism and more.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 5786
Orchot Tzaddikim class 73, "Teshuva" part iv
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 5786
Orchot Tzaddikim class 72, Teshuva part iii
The class deals with the most common examples of mistakes or sins which we almost all do, some of which haven't changed, but we also point out those where historically there has been an interesting improvement over time.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 5786
Sometimes We Have No One to Blame But Ourselves & Our Imagination!
Rav Kook explains how fear and one's imagination often cause more damage than the problem itself. In fact, most of our problems we cause to ourselves, and if we made decisions based upon Godly logic and ideals, it would not only grant us a feeling of security, but in fact we would save ourselves from most problems, and surely the inflated or exaggerated ones.
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 5786
