89. Consent

I think the adage is " Do the mitzvah only for the sake of the mitzvah

Sometimes the problem of some readers could be that they have a Greek/Roman mindset and trying to understand a Hebraic mindset/idiom is not easy with Greco/Roman minds. Maybe?.

Please forward to ALL Government Officials who continually write EVERY Law and then are asking every individual to follow the Pharaoh blindly, without reason.

this is beautiful -- simple, uncomplicated, and so easy!! no ego, no expectations. it's great - thank you!!

We are all just pathways of good when we are at that time and place where it is needed. When we start asking if that good act will result in something, then the ego blocks the timing, usurps that energy and turns the opportunity to become a medium of good into an act of vanity.

That's what I got from it.

I may have been misled or I may have misunderstood Karp's point-of-view. Yet, I guess I understood your daily dose. Your daily doses are very clear and a true blessing to me. I'm a layman in judaism. I've been studying judaism for only two years. I know very little. I'm sorry if my comment was undue. You're a great rabbi! Thanks for sharing precious knowledge with us. Shalom!

But I guess one point does not replace the other. I understand Freeman's point. The must be an occasion for the use of each contention. As Aryeh Kaplan says we're half angel and half animal. The body is receptacle of the animal nature of man and the soul the receptacle of his angelical nature. Thereafter, there are times when we must release our animal drives and impulses but there are also times when they should be tamed by our soul, mind, the Divine nature in us. The middle way might be the balance.

Reason, our ability to reason, is also from G-d.

Reason is often instrumental in preventing us from doing bad things;-

both to ourselves and to each other.

Reason is only apart from G-d when it becomes a form of idolatry; as if it were exclusive to everything else before G-d.

When you perform and act of kindness for someone else you are just as likely bringing that person from the irrational to the reasonable rather than the other way around.

Acts of kindness that may at first seem senseless can unharden the heart, and from there allow the mind to be more rational then previously.

Our reason, our ability to reason, is also from G-d.

It's okay, buddy!

I think you've got it exactly wrong!

Nothing has entrapped humanity more then pitting the goodness of G-d against reason.

Yes, the mind without heart (compassion and mercy, kindness) is nothing; worse than nothing even at times.

We can't exist on pure reason (any of us, Jew or Gentile) anymore then we can breath pure oxygen.

G-d has made room amongst us for other considerations.

Yet, I tell you that the Talmud is true where it says in it that:

"The king leads with his mind whereas the fool leads with his heart."

Btw, Rabbi Freeman:

Have you ever seen the movie version of Chaim Potok's "The Chosen"?