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Our Faith and Strength
by Rabbi Naftali Hoffner
TABLE OF CONTENTS
By Topic | By Chapter | Introduction | Subject Index

Introduction

Out of love for us, the Almighty has directed us to follow His commandments and steer clear of the prohibitions - in accordance with our covenant at Mount Sinai - in order to attain real happiness. However, because of human limitations, this means many challenges have to be met - in our private life as well as part of Klal Yisroel.

At at time when considerable parts of our people stand confused when faced with threats to their existence as Jews - this manual OUR FAITH AND STRENGTH can help us:

  1. to assess the purpose and the challenges of our life;
  2. to serve as a guide for the Torah Jew - living and working in the modern world;
  3. to acquaint us with the very clear answers of our Sages to problems facing us as individuals and as part of Klal Yisroel.
NOTE: Due to complicated interlinking among files, it was not feasible to split up the documents containing this book. As a result you should be forewarned that the book itself is 156 kb of text, the subject index is 91 kb and the footnotes are 47 kb.
Topics
Our Faith and Strength by Rabbi Naftali Hoffner

Chapters

    THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE OF LIFE
  1. Purpose of Life
    2.
  2. Freedom of Choice Between Good and Evil
    3.
  3. Choice of Endeavor
    4.
  4. Choice of Endeavor for the Future
    5.
  5. Freedom of Choice and Its Limits
    6.
  6. When Even An Emissary Is Punishable.
    7.
  7. Inability to Repent
    8.
  8. Non-Repentance in History
    9.
  9. How to Avoid Restrictions on Free Will
    10.

    PREDESTINY

  10. What Has Been Decreed Before Birth
  11. What Is Decreed at Birth
    12.
  12. Self-Determined Fate and Divine Providence
    13.
  13. When Negative Destiny Is Overridden
    14.

    SUCCESS IN LIFE

  14. What Determines Success in Life
  15. Lasting Success - From Heaven
    16.
  16. Human Effort and Divine Providence
    17.
  17. Consequences of Success
    18.

    TRUST

  18. Trials and Trust
  19. Trust in the Almighty
    20.
  20. Lack of Trust
    21.
  21. Punishment for Lack of Trust
    22.

    REWARD AND PUNISHMENT IN THIS AND THE COMING WORLD

  22. Reward and Punishment in This World
  23. The World-To-Come
    24.
  24. Retribution for the Wicked and the Righteous
    25.
  25. Where Mitzvoth Are Rewarded
    26.
  26. Where Sins Are Punished
    27.

    RELATIVE RECOMPENSE

  27. Relative Recompense
  28. Mitzvoth for Love or Fear of The Almighty
    29.
  29. Appropriate Reward
    30.
  30. Appropriate Punishment
    31.
  31. Punishment by Heaven-Sent Death
    32.
  32. Punishment for Evil Thoughts
    33.
  33. What Regret May Cause
    34.
  34. Judgement During the Ten Days of Repentance
    35.
  35. Prosperity of the Wicked
    36.
  36. Troubles of the Righteous
    37.

    TROUBLES

  37. Reason for Suffering
  38. Reaction to Suffering
    39.
  39. Punishment of Others Because of You
    40.
  40. When Prayers Are Answered
    41.
  41. When Prayers Are Not Answered
    42.
  42. Indication That Prayer Is Accepted
    43.

    REPENTANCE

  43. Importance of Repentance
  44. What to Regret
    45.
  45. How to Repent
    46.
  46. Prompt Repentance
    47.
  47. Time for Stock-Taking
    48.
  48. Repentance in Stages
    49.
  49. How to Avoid Forbidden Talk
    50.
  50. Repentance for Evil-Talk
    51.
  51. Repentance for Believing Evil-Talk
    52.
  52. If Unsuccessful in Repenting
    53.
  53. Help With Repentance
    54.

    ATONEMENT

  54. Atonement Nowadays
  55. Atonement for Wrong-Doing
    56.
  56. Atonement Through Torah Study
    57.
  57. Atonement With Money
    58.
  58. Atonement Through Suffering
    59.
  59. Atonement After Death
    60.
  60. Who Has No Share in The Coming World
    61.
  61. When Even Repentance Does Not Atone
    62.
  62. Punishment of a Son for His Father's Sin
    63.

    COMMUNAL PUNISHMENT

  63. Antisemitism And Its Significance
  64. Reacting To Antisemitism
    65.
  65. How To Prevent Communal Punishment
    66.
  66. Punishment Of Nations
    67.

    DIAGRAM

    FOOTNOTES

    INDEX

    Written by Rabbi Naftali Hoffner
    HTML Design: Michael Treblow
    © Copyright 1994 by Naftali Hoffner and/or Mosad Eliezer Hoffner
    Published by Mosad Eliezer Hoffner; P.O.B. 6303 Tel Aviv
    Distributed by Feldheim Publishers
    Web Edition Courtesy of Ohr Somayach International
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or other-wise, without prior permission in writting from the publishers
    Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students. The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.
    Ohr Somayach International. Send comments to: info@ohr.edu

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