Striving for one big goal after another that comes to naught can feel as though life is laughing at us - to a point of wondering if we have free will at all. On the other hand the entire system of reward and punishment points clearly to our power to make meaningful choices in life. A well consturcted class on where our free will ends, and where God’s will begins.
Many accept the notion that religion is a matter of belief that works hand in hand with the mind. Rabbi Kirzner takes it a step further to prove the inherent connection between emotions and conclusions we seemingly reach through logic. Hear how and why we arrive at the decisions we make.
Of course deep down all people want to do good - but would it be so bad if we would just remain passive? This class deals with the benefits of exercising our power to choose good, and the consequences of not doing so. Rabbi Kirzner explains how evil is also an integral part of good - and how we grow from these moments of truth.
For every sincere understanding it is important to sort out the emotions from the intellect, and to own up to how much one affects the other. Rabbi Kirzner gives basic rules of psychology culled from Torah sources to help us understand not only the questions we ask, but why we're asking them.
Randomness – Is it possible to consider all the sudden calamities and tragedies that strike like an unlucky spin of the dice? Or do we attribute such events to man's inability to comprehend such forces? Rabbi Kirzner explains which forces are at play, and how a weak grasp of this offers those who are suffering very little comfort.
The soul provides us with an aspect of immortality that far outweighs the sensuous pleasures of our physical life – but at the same time, we don’t find our identity wrapped up in it as strongly. Why is it so important to fight for the true ownership of our soul? And why does understanding where one life ends and the other begins need to precede a discussion on suffering?
The concept of punishment is often misunderstood, and drives many away from God in pain and rejection. If indeed God is all loving, how can such a painful thing be part of God's world? Rabbi Kirzner tackles this topic by examining the intersection of free choice and Divine intent.
Being punished with suffering often feels unjustified in light of our generally well lead lives. Doesn’t our balance sheet come our heavier on the positive side? Even worse is the torturous experience of being afflicted as we watch the wicked proper. Rabbi Kirzner explains the value of temporary investment for eternal returns.
The purely righteous person suffers as well – but often their endurance of pain is far more selfless than those that have it coming to them. Rabbi Kirzner explores a number of reasons for the suffering of the tzaddikim, among them bringing blessing to the world, atoning for their generation, and not making the difference in the world that they could have, and finds the justice in each.
Rabbi Kirzner is ever understanding of our humanity while urging us to move higher as he deals with the emotional turmoil that is part and parcel of pain, and that often defies the logical answers put forth to mitigate it. How can we teach ourselves to turn toward G-d in suffering instead of away?