Avodas Hashem

A few thoughts

I would like to share some thoughts with you that have been running through my mind recently. My purpose here is not to give mussar, nor to boast in any way. It is only to give you some food for thought, and perhaps some inspiration. I know that if you are reading this, you probably…

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Vayikra – Expansion in Limitation

What is the deeper meaning of the concept of the korbanos? How does the sacrifice of animals enhance our relationship with Hashem? Why was Noach able to bring all the Kosher animals as sacrifices, whereas the Jewish people were limited to domesticated animals like cows and sheep? What is the deeper meaning of Hashem’s call…

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Moshiach's crown and Yakov's path

In a previous post, we discussed the Gemara in Sotah that talks about Yosef and his brothers going up to Eretz Yisroel to bury Yakov Avinu. The gemara describes how the children of Yishmael, Esav, and Keturah all come out to battle the children of Yakov. When they saw Yosef’s crown which he had placed…

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Moshiach, now?

The following comment was posted on the previous post: Please, Ari, please don’t fall into the trap of predicting a scary downfall of America. Just three months ago, I asked R. Chaim Kanievsky if I should move my family to E”Y. I was all excited about it. He replied that I cannot come without parnassah.…

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Purim gelt

Guest post by Daniel Based on my best calculations, I gave very close to, or just over, $25 in tzedakah throughout Purim this year. I was makpid to the best of my ability to always give something to anyone that asked me. Upon arriving back at my house, there was a letter waiting for me,…

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Obama, the economy, and the prelude to Moshiach

Why is the economic situation connected to Moshiach’s arrival? Why does it seem that the current mode of dealing with the problem will not yield bona fide results? I think that our hearts tell us that both of the aforementioned questions are valid. While this that we sense may be affected by what we’ve read…

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Yosef and the wealth of redemption

My wife recently read the book “Let My Nation Descend” by Yosef Deutsch, which details the account of the sale of Yosef, culminating with the young nation of Israel journeying to Egypt. She shared a remarkable part of the story with me that I thought was both interesting and thought provoking. On page 214, he…

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Help fight this war

In the daf yomi today (בבא קמא דף ג) the Gemara brings the passuk in Yeshaya (21:12): אמר שומר אתא בוקר וגם לילה אם תבעיון בעיו שבו אתיו – The watchman said that the morning has come, and also night, if you would ask, then come again. Rashi on the passuk is powerful. He says…

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Missing the point

I heard the following story in the name of R’ Shimshon Pincus z’l. Rabbi Boruch Adler* was asked to give a shiur to a mixed group of people, comprised of both scholars and unlettered individuals. He was forewarned that he should make sure to explain and translate words or concepts that might be foreign to…

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Thinking ahead

This story starts off rather normal. But a discerning ear will hear greatness here. Last night, the wife of an old friend of mine called. Her in-laws will be in town and staying in my area and she heard that I may be out for Shabbos Chanukah for a simcha. I confirmed that I would…

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