Sha’ar 2:18: Spiritual Cause and Effect
All neshamos go up and are judged. Those of tzadikkim are stored under kisei hakavod, those of reshaim are cast down. Reward & punishment works on a basis of cause and effect. Torah & mitzvos create a positive effect, aveiros
Sha’ar 2:17: Preparing for What Awaits Us
1) Nefesh is a person’s essential defining quality. For the Rasha, it goes to Gehinom. 2) Death is very difficult for one who didn’t separate himself from physical desires. Better to make that separation while alive and be prepared, and
Sha’ar 2:17: The Death of Re’sha’im. Techiyas Ha’Meisim.
Sha’ar 2:17: The Death of Re’sha’im. Techiyas Ha’Meisim.
The Exquisite Balance of Torah
Torah is exquisitely balanced in all dimensions / ways. One of the those couplets of balance is “ger v’toshav” – being foreigners and residents in the world. It may feel more “righteous” to be out of balance in one direction
Avos 4:5 – 1) Chilul Hashem. 2) Torah Belongs to Klal Yisroel as a Whole.
“Echad shogeig, echad meizid b’chilul Hashem.” This does not mean that they are equally serious, but that nifraim mimeinu b’galoi applies either way. When shogeig doesn’t mitigate the consequence of the aveira, the difference between punishments for an act of
Surrendering to HKBK
Sha’ar 2:15 – 17: Using Our Time in This World To Prepare for Our Eternal Life
2:15 – Have to reflect on what you will want the situation to be when you are close to yom hamoves, and work now to get there. The challenge is not to get distracted.2:16 – Try to fulfill all mitzvos
Sha’ar 2:15 – Calibrated Awareness of Mortality as a Trigger for Teshuva and Simcha
R’ Yona did not prescribe the same schedule in 2:15 as he did in 2:14. Clearly that schedule which one has for Aseres Yemei Teshuva is not sustainable throughout the year, and 2:15 is talking about all year. Beginning of
Sha’ar 2:15: The Immediate Need for Teshuva
In what contexts should we be concerned about dying tomorrow? When there is a spiritual thing on my to-do list before dying that can be done now, e.g., making a cheshbon hanefesh; I could’ve always pushed it off forever saying
Sha’ar 2:14 – Teshuva on Yom Kippur
Mitzvas Aseh to do teshuva on Y”K. What’s added beyond mitzvas teshuva of all year? 1) There is a chiyuv to engage in cheshbon hanefesh and uncover cheit that we were unaware of until now 2) On Y”K the Torah