Podcasts about Chazal

The type of prishus that Chazal recommended,Is to find ways to avoid being tested.With everything kosher, you can still overeat,Enjoy the essentials, but stay away from the treats!

Join us in Jerusalem for Ohr Samayach's Inaugural Yarchei Kallah event from July 7th to 9th, 2025! Featuring HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz shlit"a & HaRav Asher Weiss shlit"a and more Click here for more information.   Dont miss this one of a kind experience! ---------------------------------------------------- Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   0:00 thoughts on Shavuot 1:25 how different should shana rishona be to other years of marriage 6:30 why does the Torah want Shmita to cancel loans 16:10 how should we navigate our divine purpose today without any Neviim 27:50 is birth control evil, do some poskim permit it? 36:00 why dont we see women taking on the option of making a zimmun together 43:25 under what circumstances can Chazal make multiple drashot from one pasuk 47:15 to what extent should secular education be allowed 57:35 what was the curriculum of Shem's yeshiva 1:00:00 why did there need to be different shvatim and what will their role be in the future 1:07:05 did people in chutzla aretz have to keep 2 days of Yom Kippur for not knowing when Rosh Hodesh Tishrei was declared 1:11:05 why did the rishonim write so much on Seder nazikim 1:19:25 origin of dikduk in lashon hakodesh 1:28:00 do any of the agricultural laws of Eretz Yisrael apply to produce in Chutzla Aretz 1:30:10 is the shmoneh esrei bracha taken from parashat kodshim 1:31:35 is tanning a problem of beged isha 1:32:50 are there problems with haskamas given to sefarim   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today! Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a   Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7   Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos     You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ https://ohr.edu  PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS  

The Rebbe answers two classic questions: the Nazir is called a sinner despite his restraint, as explained in Tosafot (Ta'anit 11a); and “empty” Jews being full of mitzvot refers to their status relative to others, not in absolute terms. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/015/010/5503

The story is told that on one Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rav Bunim of Peshischa came to his Rebbe, the Chozeh of Lublin, to receive a berachah. However, he noticed that the Chozeh was hesitant. At the time, Rav Bunim had a successful business, but the Chozeh revealed to him that he had seen a decree in Heaven that during the coming year, Rav Bunim would lose all of his parnassah. On Yom Kippur, Rav Bunim poured out his heart in tefillah, with sincere tears and deep emotion. Though his business later faced serious challenges and was nearly shut down, not only was it saved — his parnassah actually doubled. When Rav Bunim returned to the Chozeh on Erev Pesach, the Rebbe greeted him warmly and told him he knew with certainty that Rav Bunim's tefillah on Yom Kippur had shaken the heavens and changed the decree from hardship to great blessing. This story reminds us that our tefillot can do wonders, but only if we truly believe in their power. The Nefesh Shimshon explains that when Avraham Avinu established the tefillah of Shacharit, he didn't merely create a morning prayer; he infused it with his own spiritual energy and power. Every time we pray Shacharit, we do so with the merit and spiritual momentum of Avraham Avinu behind us. The same is true for Yitzchak Avinu, who established Minchah, and Yaakov Avinu, who established Arbit. These tefillot were not only composed — they were charged with the deepest essence of the Avot, and that strength continues to support our prayers today. Similarly, every time a person opens a Tehillim, they are not just reading words on a page — they are connecting to the neshama of David HaMelech. Each word of Tehillim is imbued with his spiritual strength, his longing, his struggles, and his closeness to Hashem. Hashem is already close to us, waiting to hear our every word. But now we understand that our tefillot are not coming from us alone — they are carried by the koach of those who established them. Chazal teach us that there is special power in a tefillah that comes with kavanah and tears. When we realize just how valuable our prayers are and how much they can accomplish, we gain new strength and motivation to pray with deeper emotion and sincerity. One woman shared her personal experience: she had been struggling with shidduchim for years. The suggestions that came her way were few and far between, and none of them seemed right. Still, she prayed daily to Hashem to send her the right zivug. What kept her emotionally afloat was the fact that she had good friends that she was close to, and then one day out of nowhere, one of her closest friends who had gotten married told her she would no longer be able to continue their relationship. This news was devastating to her. She spoke to this friend every day. She was her lifeline of support. Shortly afterward, she traveled to Eretz Yisrael. Before returning home, she went to the Kotel to pray. Instead of complaining and bemoaning her fate, she decided to channel all of her pain and emotion into the most heartfelt tefillah. She cried to Hashem for her zivug and in her words, it was the most powerful tefillah she had ever made. The very next day, upon returning home, she received a call from a shadchan with a new suggestion — the man she would soon marry. These stories illustrate that tefillah has the power to change everything. It is up to us to believe that Hashem is listening, and that every word we say matters. We are never alone. When we pray with heart and connect genuinely to Hashem, we can draw down brachot that are far beyond anything we could expect. As the pasuk says: קָרוֹב ה' לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת (Tehillim 145:18) Let us strengthen ourselves to approach tefillah not as a routine, but as a living bridge to the Ribbono Shel Olam — a moment to pour out our soul, to draw from the merit of the Avot and tzaddikim, and to unlock the gates of blessing with every sincere word we say.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal unpacks the latest on global tariffs, inflation pressures, recession risks, and why smidcap stocks might be poised for a comeback in a shifting economic landscape. *This episode was recorded on May 28, 2025

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot teaches us how deeply beloved we are to Hashem — not only did He give us His precious Torah, but He also expressed His immense love by telling us just how valuable that gift is. Shavuot is a time to appreciate the Torah as our guiding light and to reflect on the responsibility that comes with such a gift. The pasuk in Tehillim states: " טוֹב לִי תוֹרַת פִּיךָ מֵאַלְפֵי זָהָב וָכָסֶף " — "The Torah of Your mouth is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces" (Tehillim 119:72). The mefarshim are puzzled: how can something eternal like the Torah be compared to something as finite and physical as gold and silver? One explanation is that, as physical beings, we naturally place high value on material wealth. The pasuk is providing a relatable point of comparison. To us, there is no greater earthly treasure than vast amounts of gold and silver — and yet, the Torah tells us its value pales in comparison to the Torah's worth. Hashem instilled within us an affinity for wealth specifically so we could begin to grasp, on our own terms, just a fraction of the Torah's true value. Yet, there lies a danger. Sometimes we become so enamored by the mashal that we lose sight of the nimshal — the deeper truth it's meant to teach. The Magen David explains this with a parable: A king wanted his subjects to appreciate his glory, so he adorned his officers in every province with the finest clothing, using wealth from the royal treasury. He hoped people would say, "If the officers are dressed like this, how much greater must the king be!" But instead, people fixated on the officers and forgot the king entirely. This is what happens when we glorify physical wealth and forget that it's merely a tool to help us appreciate the infinitely greater glory of Torah. Another pitfall comes when people view mitzvot as mere tools to achieve physical rewards. For example, someone may take on a 40-day acceptance to refrain from lashon hara in hopes of achieving a personal salvation. In such cases, the mitzvah becomes a means to an end — the salvation is the focus, not the growth. But this perspective is flawed. Physical rewards are minor side effects of the real reward — the mitzvah itself. No worldly pleasure could ever equal the spiritual elevation one receives from performing even the smallest mitzvah. If someone doesn't receive the outcome they were hoping for, they should still rejoice in the merit of having fulfilled a mitzvah. And if the desired outcome is granted, it should not diminish the value of the mitzvah, nor should one think it was only worthwhile because it "worked." The mitzvah brings a person closer to Hashem, elevates the neshama , and yields eternal benefit. The Chatam Sofer writes, to truly benefit from a mitzvah, one must first value it. Chazal tell us that tzitzit protect a person from sin — yet some wonder why they don't feel that protection. One reason might be a lack of appreciation for the mitzvah itself. If we don't value our mitzvot, we don't engage with them fully — and we miss out on their spiritual power. The same is true for all mitzvot. If a teacher of Torah to children understood that the world stands in the merit of what he is doing, he would never interrupt his class to check a message. If he truly internalized what the Kav HaYashar teaches — that 18,000 angels gather the words spoken by children learning Torah — he would not trade his role for anything in the world. Every word of Torah we learn is more precious than any material success this world can offer. Let us take the time to appreciate what we are privileged to do each day and thank Hashem for the indescribable zechut of sharing in His most precious gift — the Torah.

   In this episode we take a closer look at why Rashi understands that the key theme of Shoftim is developing the Mishkan. How do we reconcile this idea with the main narrative of the Sefer that talks about the problems of the times with Avoda Zara? We also discuss Chazal attributing authorship of the Sefer to Shmuel. How did they know this? What does this teach us about the Sefer?   Similarly, we look at the basic theme of Shmuel. Why do we call the Sefer called Shmuel and not Dovid? Isn't Dovid the protagonist for more of the Sefer than Shmuel? Similarly, why does the Sefer include the stories of Eli in Shmuel and not in Shoftim? And also why are the last stories of Dovid in Melachim? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS  

David HaMelech tells us in Tehillim, וצדקתך ירננו , which the Sha'arei Chaim explains to mean that even when we face difficulties, we are meant to respond by singing to Hashem. How is that possible? The pesukim before reveal the secret: דור לדור ישבח מעשיך —each generation should relate to the next the chesed they have seen from Hashem in their lives. ודברי נפלאותיך אשיחה —David HaMelech would constantly speak, even in everyday conversation, about the wonders of Hashem. וגדולתך אספרנה —he would speak of the endless greatness and kindness Hashem bestows upon the world. זכר רב טובך יביעו —our mouths should overflow with praise for Hashem's goodness like a spring that never runs dry. If a person constantly talks about Hashem's kindness, then when something happens that appears negative, it won't shake him. He'll already be fortified with the understanding that Hashem only does good. The Midrash says that from the day Hashem created the world, no one sang shirah until Bnei Yisrael sang אז ישיר at Keri'at Yam Suf. The Sfat Emet asks: we know Adam HaRishon sang shirah— מזמור שיר ליום השבת —as did others. What does it mean that no one sang until Az Yashir? He explains that until that moment, people only sang about the salvation after it came. But at Yam Suf, Bnei Yisrael reached a higher level—they sang about the difficulties too, because they saw that even the hardships were part of Hashem's goodness. אמר אויב ארדף אשיג —they sang about Pharaoh chasing them. מי כמוך באלים ה׳ —they declared; Who is like You among the mighty, Hashem? Chazal explain on this phrase: מי כמוך באלמים ה׳ —Who is like You, Hashem, who remains silent when the worst seems to be happening? How could Hashem be silent when the enemy entered the Beit HaMikdash to destroy it? When Titus HaRasha stabbed the parochet and blood came pouring out? When the resha'im tormented His beloved people in Mitzrayim and, centuries later, in Nazi Germany? At Yam Suf, Bnei Yisrael understood the greatness of Hashem: that He could remain silent because only He saw the ultimate good in every moment. Even the most painful events, seemingly caused by human actions, were all orchestrated by Hashem for our benefit. In the Haggadah, we say: לבן ביקש לעקור את הכל -וירד מצרימה . The mefarshim ask, what's the connection between Lavan wanting to destroy Yaakov and the descent to Mitzrayim? They explain that Lavan's switching of Rachel for Leah led to the shevatim being born from different mothers. Rachel, being the more beloved wife, caused the brothers to feel resentment toward her son, Yosef. That led to Yosef being sold—and eventually to the entire family descending to Egypt. This wasn't really Lavan's doing. Hashem had planned it from the time He told Avraham Avinu that his children would be strangers in a land not their own. Nothing is random. People are not in control—only Hashem is. And He does everything for our good. The more we speak about His hashgachah, His chesed, and His love for us, the more these truths will sink into our hearts. Then, when difficulties arise, we'll have the strength to sing even through the pain. In the future, Hashem will reveal to us all the good behind every event. But if we can trust Him now—before the light shines through—and sing in the darkness, we will reach the highest spiritual levels.

The story of the "curser" at the end of Emor and the incident in Shemot can be understood through the lense of Chazal, and the lessons are poignant

  In this episode, we look at one of the most challenging aspects of understanding Tanach, the journey between parsha level understanding to Sefer level understanding. Part of this process is the necessity to divide the Sefer into major sections. While a small number of sefarim have clearly defined subdivisions, most don't. Similarly we discuss when one can use a statement of Chazal to understand the theme of a Sefer.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS  

One of the reasons that people may lose energy and excitement in their avodat Hashem is that they misunderstand the way Hashem deals with them. It makes logical sense that when a person is doing what Hashem wants, he should feel a certain spiritual elevation and receive some type of reciprocation which shows that Hashem is appreciating what he is doing. And so, when those things don't happen, people may begin to lose the enthusiasm that they once had. If they only knew how much Hashem appreciates what they are doing, and how much they are gaining every second of it, they would happily increase their enthusiasm. Let us analyze the way that Hashem dealt with Avraham Avinu. Hashem promised him a baby boy when he was 70 years old, but he did not see the fulfillment of that promise for another 30 years. Then, when Yitzchak was 37, Hashem commanded Avraham to offer him up as a korban . One would think, being that this was arguably the greatest mitzvah ever performed, that Avraham should have felt a connection to Hashem like no other on his way to do the Akeda . He should have felt an incredible spiritual feeling beyond imagination. Yet, it says וירא את המקום מרחוק – and he saw the place from afar. Chazal tell us that means he saw the מקומו של עולם - HaKadosh Baruch Hu – very distant from him. He did not feel any spiritual elevation, nor did he feel any connection to Hashem. It was actually just the opposite, a feeling of being distanced from Hashem. And one would think, after Avraham passed this monumental nisayon , Hashem should have showered him with blessing and showed him how great he became as a result. Yet that is not what happened. Rather, Avraham discovered that his wife had passed away, and he had to go deal with finding her a burial plot. This is precisely what made Avraham's deed as great as it was. The entire Jewish Nation is still benefiting from that one deed until today. Avraham knew that what he was doing was what Hashem wanted and that's all he needed to know. Going there without the spiritual feelings made the avodah even more precious. Not seeing Hashem patting him on the back, kavayachol , afterward made the avodah even more valuable. This world is the world of work. We need to toil in our avodat Hashem and the rewards come later. If someone has been praying for something for years without seeing results, he may feel that Hashem is not listening to him. Yet our Chazal teach us otherwise. Our Imahot prayed for years without seeing any results and that is precisely what made them as great as they became, continuing to push themselves without seeing the reciprocation. We know what Hashem wants from us. He told us in the Torah. And we know He appreciates every little move we make. When we continue growing and serving Him to the best of our ability, without the spiritual feelings and without the immediate rewards, it makes our service infinitely greater. If someone starts learning more or going to shul more, his natural expectations are that he will see more open blessing in his life from it. That may happen and it may not, depending on what Hashem knows is good for him. But if it doesn't happen and he continues learning and continues going to shul more, it makes those efforts so much more valuable and it raises him to such a higher level. He will most probably not feel any more spiritual from what he is doing, but that will just add to the potential levels he could reach. Akedat Yitzchak was done without any special feeling and without any immediate reciprocation. And we know that Hashem appreciated that act more than we could imagine. It made Avraham so great and the rewards of it are still being paid until today. This should be a model for us to understand that the greatness of our avodah does not depend on how spiritual we feel or how quickly Hashem gives us what we want afterwards. It's actually just the opposite. The more we persevere without the feeling and without the reciprocation, the greater the avodah becomes.

Rabbi Chananiah ben Akashia teaches us that Hashem desires to bestow abundant merit upon the Jewish people. For this reason, He gave us many mitzvot—each one an opportunity to earn immense spiritual reward. While the ultimate reward for mitzvot is reserved for the World to Come, Chazal teach that mitzvot also bring tremendous benefits in this world. Our sages explain that the Jewish people were not originally deserving of redemption from Egypt. It was only through the merit of two mitzvot that they were finally freed. The sea itself split in the merit of Yosef HaTzaddik, whose steadfast resistance to Eshet Potiphar became a merit for all of Klal Yisrael. The Midrash at the beginning of Parashat Ki Tavo tells us that Hashem gave the mitzvah of bikkurim (bringing the first fruits) to the Jewish people as a merit to help them enter the Land of Israel. The Torah also teaches that honoring one's parents brings the reward of long life. And in the merit of emunah , Chazal say, we will be redeemed from our current exile. There are countless examples of how mitzvot serve as a source of zechuyot . Every test and opportunity Hashem gives us is a chance to accumulate spiritual wealth that benefits not only us but our children and grandchildren for generations. We may not always see the full reward of a mitzvah, but we can be certain that every one of them helps us in unimaginable ways. A powerful modern example was shared by A.J. Gindi, the head of Renewal—an organization that helps kidney patients find life-saving matches. A woman with an extremely high PRA level came to the organization, desperately in need of a kidney. Due to her rare profile, the chance of finding a match was extraordinarily slim. Even Renewal's vast international database turned up nothing. They held a special donor event in the hopes of a miracle—and miraculously, a match was found. Before the transplant, the woman was asked what merit she believed had brought about such an unlikely success. She replied that she personally wasn't aware of any special merit, but she shared a story from her grandmother's experience during the Holocaust. While imprisoned in a concentration camp, her grandmother was shown rare kindness by an SS officer, who gave her a pass allowing her to move freely without being questioned. She thanked him and pleaded for passes for her parents as well, which he granted. Overjoyed to help her family, she returned with the passes—but was then approached by someone who begged her to obtain one more. At first, she refused, fearing that pushing further might result in the officer rescinding everything. But then the person explained: the pass wasn't for himself—it was for the Bobover Rebbe , who was in their barracks. "We must save his life," he said. The woman, a professional artist, decided to try to replicate an identical pass. She spent the entire night replicating it with precision. The pass was delivered to the Rebbe, and baruch Hashem , it saved his life. The kidney recipient concluded: "Perhaps in the merit of my grandmother saving a life, Hashem is now saving mine." After the successful transplant, the donor was asked what merit she thought enabled her to be the match. She replied, "I'm not sure, but I come from a family of rabbis. In fact, my grandfather was the Bobover Rebbe." Everyone present was stunned. Eighty years after a brave woman risked her life to save the Rebbe, Hashem repaid the kindness in kind—his granddaughter was now saving her granddaughter's life. This is just one example of how a single mitzvah can echo across generations. Every mitzvah carries infinite merit, benefiting us both in this world and the next. It is our responsibility and privilege to embrace each opportunity with joy, knowing that every act of goodness creates a ripple of blessing beyond what we can ever imagine.

2 sections- allowance/lack therof to use pillows to cushion the fall of the items on the animal that needs to be removed on Shabbat because of tza'ar ba'alei chayim, debates of decree of Chazal to use animals/trees on Shabbat extend to sides as well

2 sections- allowance/lack therof to use pillows to cushion the fall of the items on the animal that needs to be removed on Shabbos because of tza'ar ba'alei chayim, debates of decree of Chazal to use animals/trees on Shabbos extend to sides as well

In Parashat Tazria , the Midrash relates a poignant story about a Kohen who served his community by diagnosing tzara'at . After losing all his wealth, he faced the painful dilemma of how to support his wife and children. With no viable options in his hometown, he resolved to leave Israel in search of livelihood. As he prepared to depart, he trained his wife—his only possible successor—in the laws of tzara'at . He taught her: "Every hair has its root, and the condition of the hair reveals the state of that root. If a hair becomes dry and colorless, it indicates that the affliction at its root is severe. But if the hair remains healthy, then the affliction is healing." His wife asked, "What if there are two hairs growing from one root?" He replied, "Each hair has its own root and is sustained individually." With profound insight, his wife responded, "If Hashem created a source of sustenance for every single hair, then surely He created sustenance for each one of your hairs—and for each of our children's hairs. And if Hashem is so meticulous in sustaining even a single hair, how much more so will He provide for you and our family." Her words, full of Emunah and clarity, convinced him to remain in Israel. Struggling with Parnassah is an intense and painful challenge. Chazal teach that if all other forms of suffering were placed on one side of a scale and poverty on the other, poverty would outweigh them all. Yet because the test is so great, the spiritual opportunity it offers is equally immense. The Chovot HaLevavot writes in the Shad HaBitachon that if a person's Parnassah is delayed in coming, he should think in his heart of how Hashem brought his Nishama down from the Kisei HaKavod into this world to do a job specifically at this time in history. The world has a 6,000 year plan and for reasons that only Hashem knows, He placed this person's Nishama specifically at this time. The same Hashem is the One in charge of giving him his Parnassah and he is the One who is holding it back now. And He knows that this is what is going to enable him to succeed in his mission. There is nothing better for a person than to go through the current period with his Parnassah delayed in coming. If he can internalize this and trust that Hashem is doing what's best for him, it would make him so great. It is very possible that the whole test is just to see how the person will respond and perhaps in the Zichut of the proper response, his future Parnassah will come in abundance. A man shared his experience: he had launched a promising business venture with two investors ready to commit both capital and valuable ideas. At the final moment, both investors inexplicably withdrew. Undeterred, he pivoted to another opportunity, this time drawing serious interest from a large institutional investor. The deal appeared certain—so much so that plans were being made for post-investment operations. He prayed fervently. But again, without clear explanation, the investor backed out. One by one, other prospective clients also disappeared.He was left bewildered, caught in a whirlwind of hope and disappointment. He has been praying and improving in Torah and mitzvot but is seeing no success in Parnassah. Of course, he should continue praying and improving but the greatest thing he could do is to accept with love that Hashem was behind everything that happened and it was all for his best, for him to fulfill his purpose in this world. We hope Hashem will shower him with Parnassah but in the meantime, he can rise to great levels by trusting Hashem and understanding that he was acting in his best interests. He can feel calm and composed knowing that he is in Hashem's hands and he could radiate that emunah to his family. The spiritual elevation he will get from that avodah will be worth more than any Parnassah that anyone could ever have. The tests in Parnassah are very difficult but that just means that the rewards for overcoming them are that much greater. Shabbat Shalom.

There are times in life when a person feels that not receiving what they desperately want would be the worst possible outcome. In such moments, they may cry out and beg Hashem for help, day and night, with their entire being. During this time, they find it difficult to enjoy anything. Their thoughts are consumed by the issue, and they can't imagine life without a resolution. Naturally, we are encouraged to pray for what we believe is best and to place our hopes in Hashem's kindness. However, it's important to recognize that sometimes, a person's mission in this world may specifically depend on enduring that very challenge. What may appear to be an obstacle could, in truth, be the catalyst for personal growth and transformation. By resenting or resisting it, a person may miss the opportunity to fulfill their unique purpose. On the other hand, if one can sincerely accept Hashem's will, even while continuing to pray for relief, they open the door to spiritual elevation. Acceptance does not mean surrendering hope. It means that as long as the challenge remains, one embraces it and strives to grow through it. A simple shift in perspective can often save a person from months—or even years—of stress and anxiety. A man recently told me that he was out of town for Pesach. On the last day of Chol HaMoed, he attended a shiur after shul, where the rabbi spoke about the seventh day of Pesach and how the splitting of the sea is compared to the miracle of bringing couples together. Chazal teach us that not only does Hashem orchestrate marriages, but He arranges all human encounters. Later that morning, as he walked down the street, an Israeli woman approached him and began speaking in Hebrew. He couldn't fully understand her, so he turned to another man passing by—someone he recognized—who was fluent and could interpret. The woman had noticed that this man was missing fingers on one hand. She explained that her infant daughter was born with the same condition, and she was overwhelmed with fear and sorrow for her child's future. Without hesitation, the man called over his wife and children and told her, "I am the happiest man in the world." He shared how he lives a fulfilling life—with a job, a loving family, friends, and a deep sense of contentment. He had never felt that he was lacking anything. His sincerity and joy radiated to her. She was overcome with emotion, nearly brought to tears by the chizuk he gave her. Until that moment, she had envisioned only difficulty and despair for her daughter. But now, she saw hope. She never imagined that her daughter could possibly live a normal life let alone get married and raise a family. She was in such misery over the past six months but now everything changed. She thanked the man from the bottom of her heart for his words of encouragement and her life is now changed. Nothing else changed from that meeting other than her perspective and that made all the difference. Hashem gave her the exact chizuk that she needed by meeting this man while he was away in her hometown. Yes, Hashem was once again Mizaveg Zivugim. We always hope to get what we want but we must remember there's a much bigger plan for us and the worst thing we could do is fight against the circumstances that Hashem puts us in. Everything we go through is to make us the people we're meant to become. This man said he sees so clearly the fact that he was born with a hand without fingers has made his life more meaningful and better in countless ways. We are always encouraged to pray for what we want but if we didn't get it yet we should happily accept the circumstances that Hashem has put us in.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal breaks down a wild month of macroeconomic news, focusing on the impact of President Trump's tariff policies on the global economy, equity and bond markets, consumer confidence and corporate inventory strategies. Richard also shares his firsthand experience of Spain's recent power outage and its unexpected lessons. *Recorded April 30, 2025

When there is Tzaraas upon a house, the Torah says one should clean out all their possessions before the Kohen inspects it. Chazal explain this is to protect the owner, out of sensitivity for him losing unkasherable vessels when they become Tamei. Why does the Torah show such sensitivity to one who deserves a public punishment, and what can we learn from it?Have a good Shabbos

Harav Dovid Rosenbaum discusses the shitos of Rabbeinu Yerucham and Rambam regarding the sefirah of days and weeks, and shares a fascinating chiddush on the Chazal's ability to create a metziyus of tov.

Rabbi Rueven Kigel on Let's Get Real with Coach menachem, Sunday April27, 2025 #228 Lose 10 lbs in 21 Days -The Torah's Timeless Wisdom on Healthy Eating: Discovering the Chazal DietMen's Program: https://www.thefitjew.com/Women's Program: fitjewladies@gmail.com

Why did Nadav and Avihu die? On the holiest day, in the holiest place, they brought an unauthorized fire—and were consumed by God's fire. Were they arrogant? Were they drunk? Were they idealists? Rabbi Dunner's shiur on Parshat Shemini explores the conflicting views of Chazal and the commentaries, the deeper message behind their deaths, and what Rav Kook's response to the “strange fire” of modernity can teach us about leadership and humility today.

If we would be able to see what we accomplish by doing mitzvot, we would run after them with such excitement and everything in this world would pale in comparison to them. When the Jewish People were preparing to leave Mitzrayim, they were told to go and gather all the wealth of Egypt. At that time, Moshe Rabbenu chose to go and find the aron of Yosef instead, and for that Chazal applied the pasuk חכם לב יקח מצוות to him. While everyone was becoming billionaires, Moshe went to do one mitzvah and he was called the wisest of all of them for that endeavor. Besides for the fact that his reward was eternal while their wealth would only last here in this world, seven days later at Yam Suf, the entire nation was in jeopardy of being killed out by the Mitzrim . When the Sea saw the aron of Yosef, it split and the entire nation was saved. Moshe Rabbenu was thus credited with saving the entire Klal Yisrael because of his pursuit of that one mitzvah. Why did the Sea split for Yosef? Because years before when he was being tested with the wife of Potifar, he ran away from temptation and so now the water was running away from his aron to save the entire Klal Yisrael . Imagine if during that difficult test Yosef would have known that he was going to be the cause of millions of people to be saved, he would have ran away with ease, it wouldn't have even been a test. However, Hashem does not allow a person to see the wondrous effects of what his deeds are going to accomplish, in order for his free will to remain balanced. But we must know that if we did have the eyes to see what was happening when we do mitzvot, we would be so excited to perform every single one of them. I read a story about a man who asked the gabai in his shul to reserve Aliyat Maftir and chazan for Mussaf on one of the upcoming Shabbatot , since that was the week of his mother's yahrtzeit . This man was a very organized person and always made sure to plan things a long time in advance. He was a long time member of that shul and one of its supporters and the gabai told him both of those honors were open and he made a note to reserve them for him. When that Shabbat arrived, the man came into shul filled with anticipation, but there he noticed that a stranger had joined the minyan that day and was in deep conversation with the gabai . The man was curious to hear what the debate was about and, to his shock, he found out that this stranger had asked for Maftir and chazan for Mussaf because he also had a yahrtzeit . Here he was a long time member and supporter of the shul and he asked for these from weeks in advance and now some stranger just strolls in out of the blue and thinks he can take those honors? But then, a small voice whispered inside of him, maybe he should give in? Who knows what merits help the neshama the most. Maybe giving up what was his for someone else would accomplish even more. And so, with great strength, he went over to the gabai and told him to give those honors to the other man. He would take a different aliyah and be chazan for Shacharit on the actual yahrtzeit instead. The gabai said, " Chas v'shalom , there is a system here, these are yours." The man reassured the gabai that he was actually happy to do this. And when the gabai saw he was serious, he went over and gave them to the other man. Rabbi Aharon Toisig, a prominent Rav from Bnei Brak, was present in the shul when this episode took place and he related what happened the next day. The congregant came into shul and said his mother came to him in a dream and said to him, "My son, I was given special permission to descend to this world to thank you. The elevation that I experienced when you gave up the Maftir and Mussaf was greater than any other I had ever experienced. I remember well the elevation I merited in past years when you got Aliyat Maftir and was chazan for Mussaf , but those did not come close to what I merited this year when you mustered up the fortitude to give up the honors that were rightfully yours for the sake of peace and to help someone else." This is just one small example of the great effects of our deeds. The harder they are to perform, the greater they become. We should always run to do mitzvot with the utmost excitement.

What happened to all the students of Avraham and Sarah? This episode unpacks that question and the surprising depth behind the answer—revealing a timeless lesson about the limits of inspiration without structure. Through the lens of gevurah (discipline), we explore how to anchor our growth in action, support others without fostering dependence, and move from emotional sparks to lasting spiritual foundations. Drawing from Chazal and modern thinkers like Rav Dessler and Rav Soloveitchik, this is a call to turn inspiration into real, lasting change—one mitzvah at a time.Join the Conversation! Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.

At times, people incorrectly depict Chazal as being petty or small-minded—and they often cite stories from the Gemara that seem to support this perspective. One such Gemara is Brachos 27b which depicts Rabban Gamliel (the Nasi) putting Rabbi Yehoshua in place for arguing with him, the other Rabbanan demoting Rabban Gamliel for this mistreatment, and the ensuing events (like Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria miraculously growing a massive beard overnight). This pair of episodes analyzes this story in light of the fact these were great men.

We begin the Seder with the Ha Lachma Anya , which speaks about the matzah and ends with the words, "Now we are still in Galut. We hope to be in Eretz Yisrael with the Beit HaMikdash before next year's Seder." Rabbi Ronen Sharabani gave a beautiful explanation in his new Haggada Me'afar Kumi about why we begin with this. Chazal tell us that the final ge'ula will take place in the month of Nisan. So, when the month begins, all of Klal Yisrael is hoping to be in Yerushalayim with the Korban Pesach by the night of the Seder. However, if Lel HaSeder arrives and once again Mashiach has not come, it could cause a person to enter the Seder with feelings of despair, thinking: "We've made this request of L'shanah Haba'ah B'Yerushalayim every year of our entire lives—and it still hasn't happened. What's going to give us chizuk to think that things will ever change?" For this, the Rabbis tell us to begin the Seder speaking about the matza. The Seforno writes on the pasuk describing Yosef Hatzaddik being rushed out of prison that this is the way of all salvations that Hashem brings—they come in an instant. Even when it looks like there's no hope in sight, things can suddenly change. And this is what happened in Mitzrayim. The pasuk says they were rushed out of Egypt without enough time for their dough to rise. Matza is the symbol of an instant salvation. And so it says about the future geula : פתאום יבוא אל היכלו —Mashiach is going to come suddenly. When we internalize that the salvations of Hashem come in an instant, we will never despair, because we know everything can change in a moment's notice. What we see today has nothing to do with tomorrow—and the same applies to the difficulties people are currently experiencing. No matter how long it's been, no matter how dismal it seems, salvation can always come in an instant. A woman told me she got married about twenty years ago and was looking forward to a joyful home filled with children. After seven long years of waiting for their miracle, they were blessed with a precious daughter who indeed filled their hearts with the joy they had hoped for. For years after that, they tried every possible method to have another child, but it wasn't working. They delved deeply into learning and practicing emunah , and then, with the advice of their rabbi, they decided to take a pause from all their efforts and instead focus on enjoying the life they had. Especially since they were making so many efforts, they risked attributing success or failure to their own actions rather than to Hashem. They spent a year focusing more on spirituality, adopting a healthier lifestyle, eating better, exercising regularly, and appreciating everything Hashem had already given them. Then they went back to the doctor to try another treatment. Everything was looking good. They were awaiting results from a certain test, and when the results came back positive, they were thrilled. Even the doctor was elated. He told them they needed to repeat the test two more times. The second time, the numbers were even better. But on the third test, the results took a turn the other way. After eight long years of waiting for their second child, it appeared that once again they were going to be let down. That night, they called a hotline for emunah , and amazingly, there was a story shared about a childless couple who had been told by their doctor that they would never have children. The husband went for a drive afterward to clear his mind, and when he returned home, he found that his wife had set the table with their finest china. She told him, "We're going to celebrate all we have, despite the sorrowful news." The next morning, at 5 a.m., they received a phone call from the fertility clinic saying it had been a mistake—and that she actually was going to have a child after all. This woman and her husband took that story as a direct message from Hashem. They picked themselves up and enjoyed that Shabbat more than ever. They sang with their 8-year-old miracle girl. They expressed gratitude and celebrated all the blessings that Hashem had given them. That Motzaei Shabbat , they went for another test, and amazingly, everything changed for the better. Baruch Hashem , that year, they were blessed with their second miracle baby. The salvations of Hashem always come in an instant. This is the chizuk we give ourselves at the beginning of the Seder, and this is something we must always keep in mind. B'ezrat Hashem , we should see the Geula Shelema and celebrate this holiday in Yerushalayim with the Korban Pesach. But even if that doesn't happen— even then —it doesn't mean the geula can't come a second later. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach.

Chazal tells us that when Aharon and his sons brought the last ram as part of their Kohanite inauguration they celebrated. May we learn from the Zerizus with which they celebrated, and rejoice in our successful preparation for Pesach.A Chag Kasher V'Sameach.

The Vilna Gaon once said that the hardest mitzvah in the entire Torah to fulfill is being happy on the holiday. The reason it's so difficult is because it requires us to be in a constant state of joy for all seven days – no worry, no sadness, no aggravation. This is hard even for a person who's blessed with a family, with a house, with parnasa. But what about when it comes to people who don't have those same blessings? How could they be in a constant state of joy? For some, the holidays are the saddest part of the year. People who don't have families; people who don't have a place to be. They listen as everybody else makes their holiday plans and they feel left out. An older single woman said she wished she could just go to sleep before the Seder begins and wake up the next morning to a new day. She dreads having to sit at the table with all of her married siblings and their children. She is always asked to help with this child or to babysit that child. Everyone figures since she doesn't have her own family, she's available to be at everyone else's service. Everyone tells her, "Don't worry, this is going to be the last holiday for you without a husband. By next year you'll be married, b'ezrat Hashem." She doesn't want to hear it anymore. She wished she could just skip the whole thing. There are people who are ba'aleh teshuva and their families don't have a real Seder. They don't have anywhere to go; everyone else is busy with their own families. There are single mothers who try to play the role of the mother and father and give their children a real Seder, but it's never ideal. There are single parents who are separated from their children, who have to be lonely guests at other people's tables. "Holidays are supposed to be family time," they say, "why can't we be with our families as well?" Their pain is very great. How could they possibly fulfill this mitzvah of being happy on the holiday? It is an extremely difficult task, but if they could find it within themselves to try and accomplish, they will receive unimaginable rewards for it. Chazal tell us, doing a mitzvah with difficulty is worth a hundred times more than doing the same mitzvah without difficulty. Rabbi Dessler explains, to do any mitzvah with even the slightest amount of difficulty is worth a hundred times more than doing it without that difficulty. If there is more than a slight amount of difficulty, then the mitzvah becomes a hundred times greater than before, and so on. And if it's an extremely difficult mitzvah, it could be worth thousands and thousands of times greater. We can't fathom the reward even for an easy mitzvah, how much more so something very difficult. The Zohar HaKadosh writes, when a person sits by his table at the Seder and says over the story of Yitziat Mitzrayim, Hashem assembles the angels together and brags to them about how His People rejoice in His salvation. Imagine if someone who has every reason to want to skip the Seder but, nonetheless, strengthens himself and still says the praises of Hashem and still manages to be happy, what would Hashem tell the angels then? When a poor man brings a flour offering as a korban, the pasuk says, "ונפש כי תקריב – he's bringing his soul." The Gemara explains, because it's so hard for him to bring even that flour offering, Hashem considers it as if he brought his own soul as a korban. Now, if for a person to give up his money to serve Hashem is considered like he gave his soul, what about if a person is able to sacrifice his emotions, to say, "Hashem, You know how hard it is for me to go through another holiday like this, but I'm going to lift myself up, I'm going to do the best that I can and serve You the way that You asked, with joy. I'll sit at a table with strangers and forget about my problems and just focus on praising You. Or I'll sit at a table without a spouse, or without children, and I'll overcome my sadness to do this mitzvah the best way." That avodah would be unbelievable. And it's not all or nothing, every little effort counts. For some, just getting to the Seder and putting on a smile is already a heroic act. May Hashem give all of us the strength to rejoice this Pesach, and may we see the ultimate salvation of Mashiach Tzidkenu. Amen.

Pesach | Birkat HaShir (2), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is "Nishmat Kol Chai" the appropriate hymn with which to finish Leil haSeder?  As we discussed in the previous shiur, the liturgical poem "Nishmat Kol Chai" is quite ancient and predates the era of the פייטנים. It is mentioned by R. Yochanan as the "Birkat haShir" which is to accompany the fourth (or fifth?) cup at the Seder. After reviewing some of the Halakhic considerations regarding its recitation - including a quick survey of the main approaches among the ראשונים regarding what is said over the fourth cup and if there is a fifth cup, we turn to the text itself and analyze it, line by line, seeing its development from a hymn about personal thanksgiving to a national-historic song of praise to an eschatological vision of universal acknowledgement of God's glory. I then suggest why this was an appropriate poem to be added to the Seder and, from there, to be instituted as the culmination of Psukei d'Zimra - what Chazal referred to as "the daily Hallel" (הלל שבכל יום). Source sheet >>

" בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להיגאל "—just as our ancestors were redeemed in Nissan, so too will we be redeemed in Nissan. As we enter this glorious month, our hopes are higher than ever for the coming of Mashiach. We have been learning about the days of Mashiach in the Daf Yomi, and we see events unfolding in the world at large. It is up to us to do our part. Chazal teach us that our forefathers were redeemed from Mitzrayim in the merit of their emunah, and we, too, will be redeemed through our emunah. But what kind of emunah do we need? When the women brought their copper mirrors as donations for the Mishkan, Moshe Rabbenu initially did not want to accept them. However, Hashem told him that these mirrors were more precious to Him than anything else—more beloved than the menorah, which represents Torah, more than the mizbe'ach, which represents tefillah, and more than the shulchan, which represents tzedakah. What was so special about these mirrors? The men in Mitzrayim were suffering terribly. They had lost their will to continue, feeling that all their labor was in vain. The women used these mirrors to beautify themselves and encourage their husbands, giving them the strength to carry on. They reassured them, reminding them that there was a future—that Hashem runs the world. Their chizuk empowered their husbands to persevere and fulfill Hashem's will, even under the most trying conditions. The Tikkunei Zohar describes how Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, when looking into the future, saw the generation before Mashiach and lamented, " ווי מאן דיזדמן בהאי זמנא "—Woe to those who will live in that time. Yet, he also said, " זכאה מאן דמשתכח בההוא זמנא וקיים בהימנותא "—Fortunate are those who will be in that time and hold strong in their emunah. Our Rabbis have told us that we are living in the עקבתא דמשיחא , the final generation before Mashiach. We are the very ones that the Zohar was speaking about. One might ask: throughout history, our people have endured immense suffering—the Holocaust and many other persecutions. By contrast, today, baruch Hashem , we live with religious freedom. Why, then, did the Zohar express such concern for this generation? A great rabbi once explained that while, as a nation, we may have it good, if we examine individual households, we will find so many struggling with personal challenges. The pain people carry is often hidden. Just the other week, in a single day, I was approached by eight different individuals seeking chizuk. One had just been told that his wife might lose her pregnancy. Another had suddenly and tragically lost her husband. One had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Another was at risk of going to jail. One had a sick child, another was struggling with business problems, and yet another was facing shalom bayit issues. Late that night, as I was leaving shul, a husband and wife approached me. The woman began to speak about her daughter, who was having an extremely difficult time with shidduchim. At first, I expected the conversation to be like the others I had that day. But then she surprised me. She wasn't downcast at all. She told me that, eight years ago, she started a nightly emunah conference in the zechut of her daughter finding a shidduch. Today, over 400 women participate. And through it, she has gained an unshakable emunah—like a pillar of fire. She is so grateful to Hashem for all He gives her each day. She goes to other people's weddings with complete joy, celebrating without a trace of jealousy. Her emunah is contagious. Wherever she goes, she uplifts others, infusing them with strength and faith. This is exactly what the Zohar meant: Fortunate are those who live in this time and have emunah. Today, so many struggle with personal darkness. But those who find a way to rise above it and praise Hashem, despite their hardships, shine the brightest. In previous generations, our ancestors were like burning torches, illuminating the world with their Torah and mitzvot—but they lived in broad daylight. In contrast, we may be but small flames, yet we are burning in the thickest darkness. Though we may not reach the Torah and mitzvah observance of previous generations, we have an extraordinary opportunity. We can shine with our emunah, something so precious to Hashem. May Hashem strengthen our emunah and grant us the merit to greet Mashiach in this great month of Nissan. Amen.

At times, people incorrectly depict Chazal as being petty or small-minded—and they often cite stories from the Gemara that seem to support this perspective. One such Gemara is Brachos 27b which depicts Rabban Gamliel (the Nasi) putting Rabbi Yehoshua in place for arguing with him, the other Rabbanan demoting Rabban Gamliel for this mistreatment, and the ensuing events (like Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria miraculously growing a massive beard overnight). This pair of episodes analyzes this story in light of the fact these were great men.

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William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the juxtaposition between weak consumer sentiment and solid economic data, exploring whether a recession is imminent and the implications of shifting inflation regimes, fiscal policy dominance, and ongoing tariff uncertainty.

On the night before Yetziat Mitzrayim , when Hashem struck the Egyptian firstborns, the Jewish people were commanded to remain inside their homes until morning. Rashi explains that Chazal teach in Masechet Bava Kama : " - מאחר שניתנה רשות למשחית לחבל אינו מבחין בין צדיק לרשע - Once the destroying angel is given permission to destroy, he no longer distinguishes between a tzaddik and a rasha ." Since the angel had permission that night, the Jewish people were instructed to stay indoors and out of harm's way. At first glance, this seems troubling. Does it mean that even a tzaddik can be harmed, despite his righteousness? How do we reconcile this with Avraham Avinu's plea when he heard that Hashem planned to destroy Sedom ? He said, "Far be it from You to kill the righteous along with the wicked!"—suggesting that Hashem would never allow a tzaddik to suffer unjustly. The Emek Beracha writes further that a tzaddik even has the power to repel the destroying angel, as we see with Aharon Hakohen and Pinchas , who halted plagues through their actions. In the beginning of Parashat Vaera, the pasuk says, וידבר אלוקים אל משה ויאמר אליו אני ה '. Hashem used His name of judgment and mercy in the very same pasuk. The Ohr Hachayim there explains, Hashem was telling Moshe, While I was dealing with the Egyptians with harsh judgement, simultaneously I was granting mercy to the Jews, even though they were mixed in with each other. Even though the destroying angel was given permission to destroy, Hashem still had mercy on the Jews. The Rambam teaches that as long as a tzaddik maintains a deep connection to Hashem in his thoughts, he remains untouchable. The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat states, "There is no death without sin and no affliction without transgression." There is never a moment that everything is not being completely controlled by Hashem. A destroying angel is just another one of Hashem's millions of agents carrying out His will. The Alsheich strengthens this point based on the pasuk that states Hashem stands amidst the judges when they are judging a court case. A judge must be fully aware of Hashem's presence so that He does not sway the judgment by even one iota. The Gemara says a judge should feel like the gates of Gehinom are open beneath him and as if there is a sharp sword stretched out against him if he purposely judges a case wrongfully. Look how much Hashem cares about the right judgment being done. He doesn't want someone who doesn't owe money to pay. He doesn't want someone who doesn't deserve a penalty to receive it, whether it's lashes or worse. Then how could it possibly be that He would allow a Tzaddik to suffer or a destroying angel not to be מבחין בין צדיק לרשע if he doesn't deserve it? The Alsheich explains, when Chazal said the angel doesn't distinguish, refers to when Hashem sends the angel of death to take the lives of people who are committing the worst of averot. That becomes a time of Din. At that time the angel is given permission to see everyone's sins illuminated on their foreheads. If a tzaddik has a sin that is fitting to be punished in a similar manner, then the tzaddik will be taken as well. Normally, Hashem, in His infinite mercy, gives people years to make teshuva. Someone could even be given decades before he is punished for a sin in the hope that he will repent and not need to be punished. However, if there is a time of divine decree, then the sins of the tzaddik will be brought to light. However, if the tzaddik does not deserve to be punished, the destroying angel will have no power over him. And if he is a tzaddik gamur , he will even repel the angel. The bottom line is we are always under the hashgacha of Hashem. No person or angel ever has any power of its own. Therefore, we can be calm knowing that we are always only in the hands of Hashem.

Vayakhel | Teruma and Vayakhel: Repetition or Complement, by Rav Yair Kahn Vayakhel is almost a word for word repetition of parashat Teruma. However, Chazal noted a discrepancy regarding the order. What idea is being expressed by this sequential shift and how can it be reconciled with the order of parashat Teruma?

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From a simple reading of Megilat Esther , it appears that Mordechai refusing to bow to Haman is what provoked Haman to issue the decree to wipe out the Jews. There must have been many Jews at the time who were angry that Mordechai had to be different, rather than just conforming like everyone else. That's what it seemed like, but Chazal tell us what really happened. When nine years before that, the Jews benefited from the seudah of Achashverosh, then it was decreed in Shamayim that they would be wiped out. The Mefarshim tell us, because Mordechai did not benefit from that seuda and because he did not bow down to Haman, he was the one who was able to be the catalyst to bring about the eventual salvation of the Jews. No matter what it might look like, when we do the right thing we always win. And when we do the wrong thing, we always lose. Hashem will not always make it so obvious. In fact, many times it will appear just the opposite, that it is the good people who lose. But it is only a test. Good always wins. The sefer Vaveh Ha'amudim brings a story that a man told about himself: Fifty years ago I worked in a butcher shop in Haifa. It was basically the only source of kosher meat in the neighborhood. I was living in a very small apartment at the time and I had to drive 30 minutes every morning to take my children to another city to the yeshiva that I wanted them to be in. The clientele in the butcher shop ranged from people just starting to keep kosher to religious people who were very particular about which meat they consumed. The sign on the door said "All our meat is glatt kosher" but there were times when the owner of the shop was not able to procure glatt meat and, instead, he took what was called "kosher meat" which was on a lower standard. The issue was, he did not inform the customers of this and there were people who would be mortified to find out they were not getting glatt meat. I couldn't watch them buying meat that I knew they would not want to consume, so when that kind of customer ordered his meat, I would tell him in a low voice, "The meat we have today is not for you, come back another day." I was petrified of getting caught by the owner, but I couldn't let the customers be misinformed like that. Eventually the owner caught me and fired me on the spot. During those days it was very difficult to find work. My children were hungry and I wasn't providing enough for them. But I kept my emunah strong, knowing that I did the right thing and Hashem would take care of me. One day, I met a man who came over to me who saw me looking so depressed and asked me what was wrong. I told him, "You want to know? I live in a small apartment. I have children sleeping on the floor. I have to drive 30 minutes each way to take my children to school. I don't have a job and my children are hungry. That's what's wrong." The man said, "I am a contractor. I just built a brand new building in a religious neighborhood right near your children's school. The apartments in that building are very spacious. There will be plenty of room for you to fit your children there. I have a deal for you. I will accept your current apartment now as a down payment for an apartment there and the balance you can pay me whenever you get the money." I couldn't believe this offer. I asked the man why he was being so generous. He said, "One day, about two weeks ago, my wife came back from the butcher empty handed, and I asked her where's the meat? She told me a worker there hinted to her that the meat wasn't up to her standards. I admired whoever that person was and I was worried about him losing his job. I just found out that it was you. I want to have the zechut of helping you for your heroic acts." The man concluded by saying, I thought I was sacrificing for Hashem, but now I see Hashem gave me much more than I ever did. I live in a beautiful apartment in a neighborhood that I want to be in. And baruch Hashem, I even found a job here with much better pay. When we do what is right, we always win. It might not always seem that way but it is for sure the truth. Purim Same'ach and Shabbat Shalom .

The Rama writes in siman 695 that it is a good practice to learn Torah on Purim before the seuda, as it says in the pasuk, "ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה – First they had אורה, which is Torah, and then שמחה , which is rejoicing. Chazal tell us when our ancestors were saved from the decree of Haman, they reaccepted upon themselves the Torah and mitzvot. At Har Sinai they accepted it out of fear and then, on Purim, they accepted it out of love. The Shem M'Shmuel in parashat Tetzaveh writes that already from three days before Purim, a special Divine light of Torah emanates from Shamayim like during the three days of hagbala before Matan Torah on Har Sinai . The Chida writes one of the reasons we wear Shabbat clothing on Purim is because it is likened to the holiday of Simchat Torah. I saw brought down, just like when we received the Torah on Har Sinai, the people were healed from any physical or spiritual ailments. That power comes back during Purim, as well, which is like the day of Matan Torah . Besides for the kedusha that is imbued in us each time we learn Torah and besides for the eternal rewards we receive for learning it, learning Torah also has side physical benefits as well. Rabbi Menashe Reizman told that the Taz wrote a kameya (amulet) 400 years ago and, with it, dozens of people became healed from illnesses and dozens of couples who couldn't have children merited to have children. A hundred years ago in Yerushalayim , an adam chashuv had an inclination to open up that kameya to see what's written inside of it. He wanted to copy it and make many more of them so more people could be helped. He knew the rule that once a kameya is opened, it loses its power, but he was willing to take the risk to help others. So he opened it up and he saw written inside, "I, David ben Shmuel HaLevy, in the merit that I toiled to understand the depths of Tosafot in Masechet Chulin, daf 96a, please Hashem, help all those who are barren and help all those who are sick." That was the whole kameya. The merit of the Taz toiling on one Tosafot brought yeshuot to so many people. Our learning of Torah is so precious to Hashem. The pasuk says in Mishleh, "יקרה היא מפנינים – It is more valuable than precious stones." The Gemara in Masechet Horayot explains the pasuk to be saying that the Torah is more precious even than the Kohen Gadol going לפני ולפנים – entering the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. The sefer Ki Ata Imadi puts this into perspective for us. He wrote, imagine we were able to witness the Kohen Gadol entering the Kodesh Kodeshim on Yom Kippur. Chazal say when he entered, nobody else was allowed in, not even the holiest angels. It was an exclusive meeting between the Kohen Gadol and Hashem. He would dip in the mikveh right before and then put on his special white garments. An old sage with a white beard, wearing all white, he looked like a malach . In one hand he was carrying a spoonful of coals and in the other a spoonful of ketoret . As he is about to perform the holiest avodah , in the holiest place, on the holiest day, imagine a Kohen Gadol called to someone and said, "You told me your father is sick, please tell me his name so I could ask Hashem now to heal him." What a golden opportunity to have the Kohen Gadol himself pray for a refuah shelemah for someone at that time. What could possibly be a better opportunity than that? Chazal are teaching us in Masechet Horayot , based on the pasuk , it is an even greater opportunity to ask for a refuah shelemah after a person just finished learning a piece of Torah. The learning of Torah is more precious to Hashem even than the Kohen Gadol entering the Kodesh Kodeshim on Yom Kippur. How fortunate we are! We have the opportunity to learn Torah any time we want. Hashem shared this precious gift with us. Let us take advantage and learn it as much as we can.

The Kav HaYashar in siman 97 writes that the day of Ta'anit Esther is very auspicious for having our tefilot answered and therefore, he says, anyone who needs rachamei Shamayim should take time out on that day and say Mizmor 22 in Tehillim and afterward he should pour out his heart to Hashem and ask Him for whatever he needs and then he should add-in the zechut of Mordechai and Esther, Hashem should open up the gates of Shamayim and accept his tefilot with favor. The sefer Bishvili HaMinhag explains why tefila is so powerful on this day. It is clear from the words of our Chazal that the entire salvation of the Jewish People at the time of Purim was all because of tefila . The Rambam writes, one of the reasons we are commanded to read the Megillah is to make known to the generations the promise given to us in the Torah " kaHashem Elokenu bichol korenu elav" – that Hashem answers us whenever we call out to Him. Which means, we were saved at that time in the merit of our tefila . And that is what we are reminding everybody when we read the Megillah . As a side note, the pasuk stresses that Hashem answers us when we call out elav – to Him. Which means, when He is the only One we are focusing on, when we truly understand that there is no other means of salvation other than Him. Ta'anit Esther specifically was established to commemorate the fact that our people fasted and prayed in anticipation of Hashem helping them at that time. And so, this day went down in history as a day of tefila . And as we know, the same spiritual energy that was in the world at that time comes back each and every year and we can take advantage of it now as well. Regarding tefila in general, the Midrash Tanchuma in parashat Vayera says, Hashem tells us to be very careful and utilize tefila because there is nothing better than it. It's even more powerful than all of the korbanot . And Hashem said further, "Even if a person is not worthy to be saved, just because he prays and is sincere with his pleas, I will do chesed with him ." Here, HaKadosh Baruch Hu bichvodo ubi'atzmo is teaching us the greatest segula of all to be helped – heartfelt sincere tefila . Hashem loves when we ask Him for help with our spiritual needs. A Rabbi who was zoche to learn with the Chazon Ish said, when they used to get to very hard sugyot which they couldn't fully grasp, the Chazon Ish would get up and go to the corner of the beit midrash and say Tehillim . Then, he would ask Hashem to open his mind to comprehend the depth of the sugya and that is how he merited to comprise the wondrous sefer called Chazon Ish. Tefila works. A man told me he was having difficulty understanding the Gemara which he learns once a week. He attends a class which is given on a high level while he is just a beginner. I told him to use the power of tefila to help himself. The following week he told me, before the class he spoke to Hashem at length, asking him in his own words with sincerity to give him the merit to understand the class. That day, he practically took over the class. All of the other students were in awe at the clarity he had. Tefila is wondrous and on Ta'anit Esther it's even more powerful. Let us utilize this gift that Hashem has given us, let us pray for the Mashiach and for the Geula Shelemah and, b'ezrat Hashem, the same way that tefila brought salvation to the Jewish People in the days of Haman, so too it should bring salvation to us today.

The pasuk in Iyov states, " אלוקים הבין דרכה והוא ידע את מקומה ". The Malbim explains that only Hashem truly understands what is happening in this world—how people are being rewarded or punished. What appears to us as a reward may, in fact, be a punishment, and what seems like a punishment may actually be a great reward. We judge based on what we see, but Hashem sees the past, present, and future all at once. Only He knows the full picture—the deeds of each person, their inner thoughts, and their intentions. However, Chazal do reveal to us one way in which Hashem interacts with the world: מדה כנגד מדה —measure for measure. With this understanding, we can sometimes catch a glimpse of Hashem's justice in action. The way we act is the way we are treated. At the end of the seven-day feast in Shushan HaBirah , on Shabbat Kodesh , King Achashverosh called for Queen Vashti to appear and display her beauty. She refused, and as a result, she was put to death. Rashi brings the Gemara in Megilla , which asks: Why didn't she come? After all, she was just as immoral as Achashverosh. The Gemara answers that Hashem struck her with tzara'at , making her appearance repulsive. Since she had been summoned to appear without clothing, she was too embarrassed to show herself. Rashi explains that Hashem caused her to develop tzara'at at that exact moment so that she would refuse the king's order and be put to death—because every Shabbat , she would force Jewish women to work in a humiliating manner, without clothing. Now, on Shabbat , she was punished in the very same way. To the human eye, it seemed like a drunken king making an irrational demand and an impulsive decision to execute his wife. But in truth, it was all hashgachah pratit . Hashem orchestrated every detail—the king's command, Vashti's affliction—because of the wickedness she displayed every Shabbat . Nothing happens randomly. Hashem is behind everything, whether we see it or not. A young man who is becoming more observant spends a few minutes each night learning emunah with a rabbi. One evening, they studied the concept of מדה כנגד מדה , how every action is noticed and valued by Hashem, and how reward and punishment always come in perfect measure. A few days later, this young man was driving when someone accidentally hit his car. After assessing the damage, he realized that the driver who hit him was a kollel student. Feeling bad about making a Torah scholar pay, and knowing that the damage wasn't critical, he decided to let him off completely. Two days later, this same young man accidentally hit someone else's car. This time, however, the other driver insisted on getting the car repaired. The damage was estimated at $1,000—his entire week's paycheck. Feeling overwhelmed, he shared what had happened with a friend, who suggested visiting a trustworthy body shop owner he knew. When they arrived, the owner took one look at the damage, grabbed his tools, and within minutes had repaired the car perfectly —without charging a single dollar. At that moment, the young man recalled the lesson he had just learned. He had let someone off, and Hashem let him off. At first, he thought the second driver would simply forgive him, just as he had forgiven the first. But Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, arranged it differently. Even though we don't always understand Hashem's calculations, we can see glimpses of מדה כנגד מדה in our lives. Everything we do matters. Hashem wants us to make the right choices so that He can reward us—both in this world and in the next.

At the beginning of this week's parasha , Titzaveh , Bneh Yisrael were commanded to bring שמן זית זך —pure olive oil—to light the menorah . Only the very first droplets from each olive were permitted for this purpose. Chazal tell us that although only 12 hours' worth of oil was placed in the lamps, the flames miraculously burned for a full 24 hours—demonstrating Hashem's presence among the Jewish people. The menorah represented the light of Torah. The Gemara states that whoever wishes to attain wisdom in Torah should face slightly southward while reciting the Amida , because the menorah , which symbolizes Torah wisdom, stood in the southern part of the Beit HaMikdash . The power of Torah is far beyond our comprehension. The Midrash tells us that Shlomo HaMelech constructed ten menorot for the Beit HaMikdash , each with seven lamps, totaling 70 flames—corresponding to the 70 facets of Torah. Chazal further teach that as long as those flames were burning, the 70 nations of the world remained subservient to Am Yisrael . But from the day those flames were extinguished, those nations gained power over us. All of our strength comes from Torah. The Sefer Sas Be'Imratecha records a powerful story about Rabbi Moshe Chevroni, the former Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Chevron . At one point, he wasn't feeling well and went to the doctor for an evaluation. After running tests, the doctor informed him that he had been diagnosed with a serious illness and had only three months left to live. His family and talmidim were devastated. But instead of falling into despair, the Rosh Yeshivah made a firm decision—he would dedicate these final months to learning Torah without interruption , stopping only for the most basic necessities. And so he did. He immersed himself in Torah study, and Baruch Hashem , instead of living for just three more months, he lived for another 20 years. The Steipler Gaon , upon hearing this, remarked in amazement, "Hashem gave him a blow, but instead of breaking from it, he elevated himself—and the merit of his Torah added 20 years to his life." What was even more astonishing was that throughout those two decades, he never required treatments that would prevent him from learning. He continued delivering his regular shiurim and prayed with the yeshiva minyan every single day. The Chozeh of Lublin once had a long line of people waiting to see him for berachot and advice. Suddenly, in the middle of his appointments, he asked everyone to step out of the room for a few moments. Once the room was empty, he locked the door. One of his chasidim , eager to learn from the Rebbe , hid inside the room to see what he was going to do. To his astonishment, he saw the Rebbe take out a Mishnayot and begin learning a perek . Unable to contain his curiosity, the chasid revealed himself and asked, "Rebbe, why did you send everyone out just to learn a perek of Mishnayot?" The Chozeh replied, "The last few people who came to me shared their suffering and begged for salvation. I felt that in order to give them a proper beracha, I needed the strength of Torah within me—so I paused to learn first." All of our great rabbanim who had the power to give berachot drew that strength from their Torah learning and purity of character. We must treasure the Torah we have and use our time wisely to learn it in depth. It provides us with the spiritual energy we need to succeed in this world. Shabbat Shalom.

The Perush HaKotev on the En Yaakov asks how we can understand the words of Chazal that whoever says Tehillah L'David ( Ashrei ) three times a day is guaranteed to be a ben Olam Haba . It seems like such a small task to receive such an enormous reward. One of the explanations given is that the essence of this mizmor is to praise Hashem and reinforce our belief that He is all-powerful, capable of granting us anything we need, and that only He alone can help us. If a person repeats this message three times a day and truly internalizes it, he is most certainly worthy of Olam Haba . The Mabit and Sefer Nafshi Cholat Ahavat'cha elaborate on this concept. The main goal of prayer is for the one praying to recognize that everything he asks for is dependent solely on Hashem. This is one of the reasons why Hashem gives us needs—so that we will come to Him, ask for help, and ingrain within ourselves the understanding that only He can provide for us. When a person reaches the level where he wholeheartedly believes that his request can only be granted by Hashem, he has already fulfilled the purpose of having that need. In most cases, it is at that moment that his tefilla is answered. A person who understands that one of his primary purposes in this world is to believe that everything comes from Hashem will cherish every request he makes of Hashem. Every time he prays for a shidduch , healing, parnasah , or anything else—if he has the right thoughts about Hashem's power—his prayer is already a tremendous success, even if he hasn't yet received what he is asking for. These emunah -filled requests acquire eternal life. They are worth more than any material gain in this world. Therefore, if someone has a need that has led him to pray to Hashem for an extended period and he has done so with the belief that only Hashem can help him, he should feel a deep sense of hakarat hatov for the incredible opportunity Hashem has given him to earn eternity. This is in addition to the great mitzva of ולעבדו בכל לבבכם that he fulfills each time he prays. This perspective can help us focus better during our tefillot . If we understand that the true purpose of our prayers is to strengthen our emunah and recognize that only Hashem can grant our requests, we will prioritize this mindset each time we pray. It is recommended that during tefillah , we pause and think: "I am about to acquire another treasure—the understanding that only Hashem can give me what I seek." Then, for each request, we should consciously reinforce this belief. With this approach, every prayer builds our Olam Haba . And yes, as a side benefit, once a person fully believes that only Hashem can provide what he is asking for, most of the time, he will be granted his request. But that is only secondary. The greatest treasure lies in the emunah that prayer cultivates within us.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal reflects on February's economic narratives, including the impact of noisy data, government spending cuts, climate change, mass deportations, recent inflation data, and the evolving nature of inflation on future monetary policy decisions. *Recorded February 25, 2025

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Chazal tell us that Hashem made our Imahot barren because He desired their prayers. Many ask the question, we know that Hashem is all merciful and only does what's best for us, so why would He put the Imahot through all that pain because of something He desired? Our sefarim hakedoshim teach us that Hashem places each person in this world to do a mission, and a major part of that mission is to recognize Hashem from amidst the darkness and tribulations that are experienced here. Hashem took a piece of Himself and put it inside of us, it's called our neshama . That neshama yearns to have a relationship with Hashem, but our physical bodies get in the way. The goal is for the spiritual to shine through the physical. Rabbi Menashe Reizman quoted from many sources that when a person experiences difficulties, his physicality gets diminished and it allows for his neshama to get much closer to Hashem. If that is the point of our existence, to get as close to Hashem as possible while being here, that means a difficulty becomes a great opportunity. Someone who does not know this prays all of their tefilot with one focus – just to end the hardship. But with this knowledge, the person could accomplish so much more with his prayers. He could recognize that he was just let into the palace of the King – the closest he can get. He can gain spiritual fortunes through connecting to Hashem in ways that were not available before. During those times, recognizing that Hashem is the only One who can help him will do wonders in connecting the person to Hashem. Because when a person needs help, and he comes to Hashem completely nullifying all other options, that is the greatest expression of finding Hashem amidst the darkness. Our Imahot were barren, and there was nothing any doctor could do to help them. During those years, when they were praying to Hashem and recognizing He was the only One who could help them, they achieved a relationship with Hashem beyond our comprehension. Their physicality was broken down and their neshamot were shining so brightly. They completely nullified themselves to Hashem and that achieved perfection for them in this world. Yes, they were eventually given what they wanted and it was precisely because they achieved such closeness to Hashem. Whenever anyone is going through a dark time in his or her life, he should know the opportunity to achieve closeness to Hashem at that time is unparalleled. A woman told me, at her daughter-in-law's 20 week sonogram, she was given a very negative report. The doctor told her and her husband that the baby had many heart abnormalities as well as kidney issues. The husband asked the doctor, who was a gentile, "What should we do now?" The doctor replied, "I see from your dress that you believe in G-d. The best advice that I can give you is to pray to Him." Over the next few months, the fetus was checked by various cardiologists and surgeons and they all said the same thing: best case scenario is that when the baby comes out it would need just one open heart surgery, but most likely it would need several surgeries. Meanwhile, the family worked hard on their emunah and bitachon , they spoke to gedolim , they read stories of similar cases where Hashem made miracles and they utilized this time to pray every tefila from the depths of their hearts. Last week, the young woman went into labor. There were nine doctors in the room who informed the parents that the baby was going to be born with a scary color, it would not cry when it came out, and it would be weeks before the mother would be able to hold it or feed it. And then, the baby came out. And it was crying, and it had the perfect coloring, and it did not need to be hooked up to any machinery. The heart had a very minute issue which did not require any surgery at all. The mother held the baby, fed the baby and a few days later took her beautiful baby girl home from the hospital. The doctor told the family, "I'm so glad I and everybody else was so wrong." Everybody did see something abnormal there, but Hashem showed them He was the only one in charge. The woman told me throughout that time period, her emunah level was at the highest it ever was, her relationship with Hashem hit new levels and she is so appreciative for that, besides for the miracles they received. P.S. They had consulted separately with three gedolim during that time and each one of them said that the baby was going to be born totally healthy. Another man I know recently told me, a few years back the hospital called him telling him the horrifying news that his relative was diagnosed with a terminal illness. While his wife was still on the phone with the doctor, he called a gadol who will remain nameless and asked him for a beracha . The gadol told him, there is nothing wrong with your relative, the doctors are mistaken. He said, "Rabbi, the doctor is on the other line reading the test results off of a laboratory report." The Rabbi reiterated, "He's wrong." Fifteen minutes later, the doctor called back apologizing, they misread the diagnosis and the person did not have the illness they thought he had. Hashem gives special siyata d'Shamaya to those who are closest to Him. We can all become very close to Hashem by recognizing Him in this world, especially during those times that He seems to be so hidden.

04/30/2023

Chazal tell us that in the future, all korbanot will be nullified except for one—the Korban Toda. We know that a Todah is brought when someone is saved from a dangerous situation. But after Mashiach comes, when there will no longer be any danger, why would we need to bring a Korban Todah? The Belzer Rebbe explained that in the future, Hashem will reveal to us all of the miracles He performed for us every single day of our lives—miracles we never even realized were happening. For those, we bring korbanot to Hashem in gratitude. The pasuk states, " כימי צאתך מארץ מצרים אראנו נפלאות "—"As in the days when you left Egypt, I will show you wonders." The Meshech Chochma quotes the midrash, which explains that in the future, we will see miracles beyond anything we could have ever imagined. What kind of miracles could possibly surpass Kriyat Yam Suf and the Ten Plagues? He answers that the greatest revelation will be when we see how every moment in history—even the darkest times—was truly a manifestation of Hashem's infinite love. This realization will be the greatest novelty to us. A perfect example is Megillat Esther. Even though Bneh Yisrael had already seen Kriyat Yam Suf, the Megillah was a completely new revelation for them. Why? Because in Megillat Esther, we witnessed how Hashem controls everything within nature. The story unfolded over more than ten years, yet every detail was orchestrated precisely by Hashem. This was the chidush—that Hashem can control everything while remaining completely hidden, without anyone realizing it. Rabbi Menashe Reizman gave a mashal: Imagine someone trying to enter a king's palace while guards stand at their posts. One way to get inside is to eliminate the guards and then walk in. A much harder way is to sneak through while the guards remain in place. In the same way, Hashem controls everything—down to the finest details—while we are there, without disrupting the normal order of the world. In the future, all of this will be revealed. We will see Hashem's hand in every part of our lives, and we will experience overwhelming joy. We will run to bring korbanot to Hashem for all the chesed He has done for us that we never even knew about. A young man from London recently shared his story with me. He is married to a girl from Brooklyn. When I asked how their shidduch came about, he explained that his wife had gone to seminary in Israel, where she made some friends from London. Before returning to America, she stopped in London to visit these friends. One night, as she arrived at their apartment, she discovered that the door was locked, and she couldn't get in. She called another friend, who invited her to stay at her house. While she was there, she met her friend's mother, who immediately thought she would be the perfect match for her son. And that's how they got married. Look at how Hashem brings couples together in ways that seem so natural, yet are completely miraculous. How does a girl from Brooklyn end up meeting her zivug in London? Hashem arranged for her to become close friends with someone from London, orchestrated her stopover in the city, and then—at just the right moment—caused her to get locked out of her friend's apartment. These kinds of stories happen to hundreds of people every single day, yet most of the time, we don't even recognize Hashem's involvement. Recently, we witnessed an open miracle that Hashem performed through the natural way of the world: Terrorists had planned to detonate bombs on five buses in Israel during the morning rush hour at 9 a.m., when the buses would be packed with people. Rachmana litzlan, had their plan succeeded, the casualties would have been devastating. But instead, the bombs went off at 9 p.m. the night before—when the buses were empty, parked in a lot. How could such a sophisticated, carefully planned attack have failed so drastically? How did they make the exact same timing mistake on every single bomb? To the world, it looked like human error. But we know the truth. This was nothing less than the Yad Hashem to save His children, hidden within the natural order. It is up to us to look for Hashem's hand in everything, to find it as often as we can, and to appreciate—even now—the endless kindness that Hashem does for us every single day.

The Sefer Mishpat Tzedek , which has a haskama from Rabbi Akiva Eiger, brings down from Sefer Immanuel that many people enjoy the highest delights in Gan Eden . Yet, when they arrive, they see individuals who, in this world, may have appeared to be resha'im . It is a wonder to them—how could these people possibly be in the same elevated place in Gan Eden ? When they ask how they attained such a high level, the response is astonishing: "Whenever we faced difficulties or afflictions in life, we accepted them with love. We said with a full heart, 'We know we deserve this. We have sins that require atonement, and we fully accept what Hashem has decreed upon us.'" That zechut alone enabled them to reach the loftiest portions of Gan Eden . This is an eye-opening chiddush . We know that accepting hardships with love is a noble trait, but here we see that it is not just good —it has the power to elevate a person to the highest levels of eternity. However, this is easier said than done. A person must truly believe that Hashem is helping him through suffering, to the point that he feels it deeply in his heart. The natural reaction to hardship is to complain, to feel that we are being treated unfairly—especially when we see others around us receiving what they want, even those who may not be as observant as we are. It is incredibly difficult to say, "I know I deserve what is happening to me. I know Hashem is doing this for my ultimate good." A person might experience a crushing disappointment and think, "Why did Hashem do this to me? Everything was going so well—I was about to get engaged, about to have a child, about to get a job, about to be healed. Why did Hashem raise my hopes, only to let me down?" These moments are among the hardest challenges a person can endure. But precisely because they are so difficult, they hold immeasurable value. A person might feel desperate, willing to do anything to receive salvation. The Mishpat Tzedek brings from Chazal that if a person accepts their hardships with love and declares, "Hashem, I know You have given me exactly what I deserve," this zechut can open the gates of mercy, bringing about salvation . Of course, nothing is guaranteed—there may be other factors delaying a person's salvation. But if there are segulot that help unlock divine mercy, this is certainly one of them. And if a person has already faced disappointment after disappointment, that only makes the next act of acceptance even greater. This world is fleeting. It is a world of toil. We are here to work—day and night—diligently accumulating mitzvot , amassing a fortune to earn our place in the next world. And this avoda of accepting suffering with love is so great that it can accomplish what would normally take years of spiritual effort to accomplish. The next time we are tempted to complain or feel down about our situation, we should stop ourselves and recognize the golden opportunity before us. We can turn to Hashem and say: "I know You want only my best. I know You are acting with absolute righteousness." And if we can not only say these words, but truly feel them in our hearts, we will merit the highest levels in Olam Haba .