24 Lessons
G-d's leadership in the world Can Z'chut Avot Ever "Run-Out"?
How does Z'chut Avot (merit of our fore-fathers) work? Why should their actions thousands of years ago, still be effective, say if over the more than 100 generations, we may have done many more sins that eventually out-weigh even their many merits? And if so, does that mean that there possibly may not be a ge'ula (redemption), if we really don't deserve it? Especially today, when most Jews (especially outside of Israel), aren't that observant, this topic is particularly pertinent. As usual, Rav Kook zt"l has an innovative approach to the topic. (Rav Kook, Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 31)
IDF Memorial Day A Tale of Two Fathers
After his first Shabbos ends with an unspeakable tragedy, Shimon Ilan’s resilience & faith paves the way for an unexpected friendship and inspires Yaakov Shwekey’s latest hit song Ein Davar Ra.
G-d's leadership in the world A Tapestry Of Diversity
Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if we were all the same? We'd all get along so well! Right?
G-d's leadership in the world Signed At Sinai
When Alex Shafir was called to do a random act of kindness he discovers he was repaying a debt 30 years later!
G-d's leadership in the world Why Does G-d Test Me With Such Difficult Challenges?
Rav Uriel Tuito of Beit El delivers an important answer to a series of similar but different questions on a critically crucial topic.
G-d's leadership in the world Doesn't G-d Also Cause the Harm in the First Place?
Translated and edited by Hillel Fendel
Why must we thank G-d for performing miracles when it was He Himself Who also brought the sickness or near-attack upon us in the first place?
G-d's leadership in the world Is G-d being "kind" if He's working toward a specific end goal?
Translated and edited by Hillel Fendel
Why do we think of the State of Israel as a kindness that G-d performed for us, when actually He did it for Himself, for the purpose of the Redemption process?
G-d's leadership in the world The Different Levels On Which G-d Runs the World & Transmits to Us
Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 241
Anyone who believes that G-d runs the world knows that he does so via various ways & on many different levels. Rav Kook deals with these many venues how He transmits messages to us & analyzes the extent of the direct & indirect levels, including dreams (mine & those around me) sickness (mine & those around me), accidents, challenges etc. The question of "why bad things happen to good people" is based upon the mistaken & even childish thought that life is supposed to be smooth, as opposed to Judaism which sees life as challenges, some pleasant & others not, which are sent us as G-d's way of helping us grow, be independent & Godly. Many aspects of life have nothing to do with "reward & punishment", but are "wake-up calls" to analyze ourselves.
Charity and Lending Money Givers Keepers
A powerful story reminding us what we give away is what we keep forever.
G-d's leadership in the world The Coffee
A short Chizuk story about Chaim who decided to learn one night for five hours straight.
Observations on Torah Study Meet Mr. Appelbaum
A 100-Year-old man reveals his life-long secret to staying healthy.
G-d's leadership in the world The Babysitter's Message
A young 14-year-old girl ends up saving the life of a seven-year-old child she was babysitting so many years later.
G-d's leadership in the world One in Ten Million
An inspiring story about the great power of answering "Amen".
G-d's leadership in the world Saved by Accident
A story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. Joel and Yechiel were good friends until one day one got the other arrested...
G-d's leadership in the world Hand of Fate
An amazing story about how Hashem is always looking out for us, even when we can't understand it.
Ein Aya Bad Turns to Good Through Perspective
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 55 (p1)
Rav Kook's optimism explains that what seems "bad" is just the "developing good", and takes issue with neo-paganism, Schoppenhauer and the school of pessimism.
Ein Aya Complete G-dliness Doesn't Weaken But Enhances Natural Drives
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 50
Marital relations are an expression of the desirous G-dly love and is not only for procreation.
Ein Aya A Natural Process is Preferable to Miracles
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 42-43
Don't be disappointed that the present redemption is coming through natural means for this is better for "where we are" spiritually.
Ein Aya If the Main World is in Heaven- Why is There Such a Strong Instinct to Survive?
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 35
We should be pre-occupied with fixing this world, and not with Heaven.
