Shaarei Yosher, sec. 6: Refinement – Part 1
AS A BEGINNING OF this preparation, so that one is ready to acquire Torah, the Torah requires specific conditions. The first condition is toil and contemplation, as our sages explain “‘If in my statues...
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Shaarei Yosher, sec. 5: Sharing – Conclusion
This is also how it works with the emanation/assistance, the dew of heaven, of acquiring wisdom. Every person is worthy of grace from the One above some increase in wisdom, to take root in...
Shaarei Yosher, sec. 5: Sharing – Part 3
WITH THIS it is possible to get a feeling for the idea that is told in the Talmud in an amazing story about the holy man Nachum ish Gam Zu. One time he did...
A Physics Metaphor for Coming to Terms with Theodicy
As I’ve mentioned in the past, Aristotle believed that motion was caused by an intellect imparting impetus to an object, which then moved until the impetus ran out. Newton replaced this model of physics...
Shaarei Yosher, sec. 5: Sharing – Part 2
With this idea one can understand how charity has the effect of enriching the one who performs it, as the sages say on the verse “‘aseir ta’aseir – you shall surely tithe’ – tithe,...
Malki-Tzedeq and Birkhas Avos
Compare these two snippets. I added color to highlight my point. First, Bereishis 14:19-20. A massive regional war just completed, and Avraham joins the kings he fought with. Malki-Tzedeq the king of Shaleim (the...
Shaarei Yosher, sec. 5: Sharing – part 1
Similarly it is appropriate to think about all the gifts of heaven “from the dew of the heavens and the fat of the land” (Bereishis 27:38) that they are given to the Jewish people...
Shaarei Yosher, sec. 4: Connecting – Conclusion
In my opinion, this idea is hinted at in Hillel’s words, as he used to say, “If I am [not] for me, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what...
Shaarei Yosher, sec. 4: Connecting – part 4
And there are more levels in this of a person who is whole, who can connect his soul to feel that all of the world and worlds are his “I”, and he himself is...
Shaarei Yosher, sec. 4: Connecting – part 3
… And above him is someone who can include in his “I” all of his household and family. Someone who walks according to the way of the Torah, his “I” includes the whole Jewish...