Class 1: Man: Animal or G-dly Being?

[Moderator]

Rav Yitzchak Cohen speaks about the key to becoming truly human - by emulating G-d and controlling our animalistic tendencies.  How do you understand the concept of 'l'hisaneg al Hashem', to share mutual pleasure with Hashem?  Have you ever experienced this feeling?
   

[shan]

This was an excellent introductory class. I've often thought man is meant to be so much more than what is typically encountered but to hear it put into words is delightful and inspiring.

Yes, there are times when I've "heard" with all of my senses but it does fade away through daily life. Grasping - and then keeping - that sense of awe, inspiration and dedication does seem difficult at times. It is though a slight bit of it comes through but passes away just as quickly.

The example of the dying man wishing to see his son play sports was superb...it is quite relevant to what is so tragically wrong with the world - even that which is not base or vile but rather empty and void.

[Lyndsay]

The concept of sharing mutual pleasure with Hashem is to find joy in what He wants from you - to perform mitzvot, etc.  It reminds me of people's firsts - for example when a person first becomes frum and is passionate about keeping every mitzvah, or when a person works hard to achieve something - such as realizing a chesed project, specific learning, or building a relationship, etc.

I can't think of (aside from the above) where I've felt this type of pleasure with Hashem - atleast not lately (which is probably one of the reasons I'm taking this course!).  I think that sometimes it's more difficult to bring our mundane daily acts to the realm of holiness and feel that what we do has meaning.  In terms of the things we do outside of learning and specific mitzvot.

Rav Yitzchak Cohen speaks about the key to becoming truly human - by emulating G-d and controlling our animalistic tendencies.  How do you understand the concept of 'l'hisaneg al Hashem', to share mutual pleasure with Hashem?  Have you ever experienced this feeling?
   

[Devora1]

This is an especially hard challenge for a woman whose daily life is mostly physical activity. I guess Hashem really held woman to a higher task to elevate all their mundane chores to spiritual levels.