Basking in the Effects of My Efforts
Basking in the Effects of My Efforts Erev Pesach one year saw me especially absorbed in holiday preparations. I was submerged in cleaning agents and assiduously attacked every bit of chametz. When it came time to check for chametz, I spent hours at it. There was no doubt that not a crumb of chametz remained. […]
Crossing Paths
Crossing Paths I was once invited to the home of a fantastically wealthy individual. As I toured his house, which was more like a mansion, I noticed that the walls were covered with expensive pictures, each worth a small fortune. Every corner announced his wealth. Sad to say, I did not feel any measure of […]
By Heart, from the Heart
By Heart, from the Heart When Masechet Pesachim was being studied in our kollel in Ashdod, I asked the students to send me questions that arose, from time to time, so that I, too, could take part in their studies. As I had asked, the Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Avner Revach, shlita, once sent me a […]
A Labor of Love
A Labor of Love On a trip to New York, I met the esteemed Rosh Yeshiva of a prominent Torah institution. “How does one grow in Avodat Hashem?” he inquired. For a moment, I was speechless. “Does the Rosh Yeshiva really mean to ask me this?” “Definitely,” he replied with tranquility. Then he added, “True, […]
Toil in Torah and Mitzvot
“When you eat the labor of your hands, you are fortunate, and it is good for you” (Tehillim 128:2) “What profit does man have for all his work which he labors beneath the sun?” (Kohelet 1:3) “It is better for a person to have one thing with suffering than one hundred in ease” (Avot d’Rabbi […]
Fleeing from Foreign Friendships
Fleeing from Foreign Friendships On a visit to Eretz Yisrael, a woman came to me, sobbing hysterically. Her terrible tale told of a daughter who had become friendly with a Romanian worker. She wished to marry him. Since her mother opposed this, they had decided to travel to Romania and marry there. “I raised my […]
A Jew Reformed
A Jew Reformed I once participated in the wedding ceremony of the daughter of a prominent man from Argentina. This man had been a Reform Jew and, with Hashem’s kindness, had found his way back to his heritage. The wedding strengthened my level of faith in Hashem. This is what happened: This daughter, who now […]
Diagnosis: Connection to His Creator
Diagnosis: Connection to His Creator I once had occasion to speak with a top doctor who is a well-known specialist in his field. During the course of our conversation, I touched upon the Torah’s opinion of various scientific matters. Out of habit, I punctuated my words with phrases like “Baruch Hashem,” and “B’ezrat Hashem.” The […]
Moving Mountains
Moving Mountains I was once asked to deliver a speech at a huge convention in the United States. Knowing that many participants were Reform and Conservative Jews, I made a stipulation that there be complete segregation between men and women. Then I put my mind to my speech. What should I tell such people? They […]
Accepted at Sinai
Accepted at Sinai A man related that his friend wished to marry in a Reform synagogue. Obviously, such a marriage would not be conducted according to halachah, and as such, is not recognized by Judaism. The man therefore requested that I speak with his friend and convince him to conduct a kosher Jewish wedding, as […]
Worlds Apart
Worlds Apart I was once acquainted with a Jewish apostate, rachmana litzlan. He deeply regretted his decision to turn his back on his nation. Every so often, he phoned me up in tears, claiming that he wished he could return to his heritage and live like a Jew. He wanted me to guide him along […]
The Lasting Flavor of a Mitzvah
The Lasting Flavor of a Mitzvah During one Pesach in Eretz Yisrael, I was struck by the sight of irreligious Jews who are stringent regarding the mitzvah to eat matzah. I decided to inquire after their paradoxical behavior. “Do you believe that your forebears were enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt and Hashem released them? It […]
