Torah Learning with Ari

I would like to share some more of the sefer Acharis Kereshis that I have been reading again recently. The book begins with some quotes from the Ramchal as well as the Gra. In the Mamar Hageulah of the Ramchal (page 54), he writes: One should know that there are two significant times in the…

About two years ago, I sang for an album that was being recorded of the Bostoner Rebbe’s Pesach Seder Niggunim. I had a great time doing it, and enjoyed the songs very much. I didn’t actually get a chance to hear the final product, and forgot about it until a little before Pesach last year…

On the Shabbos before Purim, my rav shared a very interesting thought, which started me thinking. When Mordechai refused to bow down to Haman, the sages of his time challenged him. They asked why he was putting himself and the Jewish people in danger, and said that we have a precedent from Yakov Avinu –…

This past Shabbos, my rav shared a thought which I would like to share with you as well. He was speaking about the fact that many people are currently facing financial difficulty due to the current economic crisis. What should the approach be for those who aren’t as affected toward those who are more affected?…

Continuing from the previous post on Gog Umagog, we were quoting Rav Kaplan’s explanation on pp. 38-39 on the children of Yefes, whose nations will come with Gog and Magog to wage war in Jerusalem in the end of days. Tuval. A northern country, see Ezekiel 38:2, 27:13. This is usually identified with Bithynia (Targum…

I began this post a few months ago, meaning to complete it pretty soon afterwards, but just had not gotten to it. There is a lot to say about Gog and Magog, and I wanted to give a little idea of what this place is and where it might be, based on some solid sources.…

I would like to share the following story that has happened on a number of occasions, with slight variations. There is something deep and human about this experience, as you will soon see. As you may know, Hashem sends me parnassah through music – I play and sing at weddings and other simchas. Quite often,…

Before Purim, someone shared a beautiful pshat with me in the name of the Chasam Sofer (I believe). If one goes back to the root of the miracle of Purim, we can trace the beginning stage to the party of Achashverosh that is described at the beginning of the story. During that party, the king…

This is a video of my father (Mr. Murray Goldwag) singing in a nursing home in Jerusalem on February 28, 2009. My mother (Mrs. Meryl Goldwag) is accompanying him on the guitar. My father shared with me that of all the experiences he has had here in Israel since living here starting in September, this…

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,…