Fundamentalism develops when people focus on the details of the Law without understanding its deeper intention, meaning and spirit. The greater people’s understanding of underlying principles the more they can find common ground and respect one another’s opinions.

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When physician treats a patient, s/he is doing a Mitzva and any mistake he makes, even if fatal does not obligate him legally or morally (provided he wasn’t careless).

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When our inner beings, our unique individuality, is on display, we contaminate by making it the public image we want others to recognize; we are selling our inner essence to the public. However, when we are fully secure in our uniqueness, when our identities are secure, we hide from the public this inner being that distinguishes us as individuals. In this state we can work on our inner being, grow it and develop it.  We contract our essence, and we use it to see but not to be seen. Fashion is an expression of individuality; uniform expresses our roles in society but reveals nothing of our individuality.

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Humility and self-sufficiency, while challenging at first, leads to a vitality not previously experienced.

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Kavanah means much more than mindfulness and attention. Kavanah means directionality.

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The desecration of Shabbat is the embracing of secularism – a worldview vacuous of Kedusha.

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Brutality is a more intense version of cruelty and manifests deep hatred.

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People experience honor (and disrespect) in different ways. The difference is especially pronounced between genders.

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Causing someone shame is a form of damage for which compensation can be demanded. This is בושת. However, פגם is different. פגם diminishes the value of the individual in the eyes of others.

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Since everything is predetermined, what gives us the right to intervene in the unfolding of Hashem’s plans for justice? If we see someone about to murder another, what gives us the right to intervene by killing the perpetrator?

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