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Despite the fact that what our parents did for us was motivated by their own feelings, we are obligated to be grateful to them. And if we are obligated to show gratitude towards a father and a mother, then how much more are we obligated to show gratitude to Hashem, the Source of all good. We are not His children physically and not part of His personality. Thus, He is not motivated by any of the weaknesses of nature that parents have. -- Ohr Avigdor Shaar Avodas Elokim.
It is important to realize the greatness of a human being before you can understand what it means to be a Jew. And don't think it's a small thing to understand the greatness of mankind. The Alter of Slabodka spoke for forty years on the subject of gadlus ha'adam, the greatness of mankind. -- The Perils of Humility (#12)
When we bow down to Hashem during the Shmonei Esreh, we must not underestimate the value of this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude for the countless kindnesses that we receive from Hashem... Each time, think of one specific kindness (of thousands) and bow in deepest humility of humble gratefulness. -- Fortunate Nation
Mesilas Yesharim says, "Kol inyanei haolam nisyanos heim l’adam -- All the matters in this world, everything, are tests for man."
That’s a sweeping statement! Hashem has to test you to know what you are? He doesn’t know beforehand what you’re going to do? And the answer is when you put gold into a refining furnace and it melts and the dross swims to the surface and you ladle off the dross so only pure gold remains. You’re not testing the gold, you’re purifying the gold. And so everything in this world is for the purpose of elevating man. — Greatness Of Work (#662) "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he does not hearken to our voice..." (Devarim 21:20)
The son that listens to instruction enjoys the inner happiness of virtuous achievement, and he does not need to pursue physical pleasures. But the son that does not hearken to instruction is never truly happy, and therefore he constantly seeks the empty pleasure of excessive food and wine as substitutes for the true pleasure of Achievement. -- Fortunate Nation A blade of grass is a miracle, it's more complicated than a skyscraper. Imagine a skyscraper would grow in your backyard; a blade of grass makes a skyscraper into nothing, it's so complicated. A skyscraper can't grow. This can grow too, it gets bigger and bigger. Miracles of miracles in one blade of grass. And that causes people, even of smaller stature, to become aware of Hashem and full of joy. -- True Happiness (#685)
The great happiness of the ohev (one who loves) Hashem is available in this world. The real longing you have in your heart — this is what you really want. Everything else that you love — money and honor — are only substitutes. After a while you get disgusted and see they are not what you really want. — Learning to Love Hashem (#675)
Whatever you think Hashem has in His mind (so to speak), there's nothing as central, nothing as weighty, nothing as urgent in the mind of Hashem as what is happening to the Am Yisroel (people of Israel) right now, in this little world. -- Thinking Hashem's Thoughts (#1000)
"Baruch atah Hashem -- Blessed are you Hashem -- rofei cholei amo Yisrael -- Healer of His people Israel,"
You Hashem are the one who keeps us well. You are healing us. Not merely when we're not sick; You're healing us constantly.. Of course when it's necessary to take medicine, we should take it. But you have to know that Hashem is the one who heals us. Your mitzvah is to take the medicine. But work on that emunah (faith) that only Hashem is the rofei cholei amo Yisrael. -- Seven Objectives of Tefila (#864) "JUST AS A MAN CHASTISES HIS SON, SO HASHEM YOUR G-D CHASTISES YOU." (Devarim 8:5) It must be made clear in your thoughts and emotions ("in your heart") to understand this principle thoroughly, that all the discomforts (and also severe chastisements) and the stern reprimands {of Hashem} are all a sign and a testimony of Hashem's especial love of you as His children. -- Fortunate Nation
If a man goes around in this world unhappy — he says This World is nothing, This World is just darkness and bitterness, it’s only we’re waiting for the real World to Come — that man will never understand his purpose in this world. “Kol ha’osek b’shira,” you have to be busy singing in this world, and thanking and expressing gratitude. And if you do, what’s going to happen? “Zoche l’omra l’olam habah,” he’ll be rewarded that he’ll continue to say this song in the Next World. -- Singing in the World (#1)
"And behold I am strengthening the heart of Egypt, and they shall come after them." (Shemos 14:17)
“In the way that a man wishes to go, he is led (by Hashem)” (Makos 10B). The leaders of Egypt, although they had been forced by the plagues to send Israel free, were still desirous of revenge and perhaps of recapturing Israel. Therefore Hashem led them on to become the means of achieving in the world a greater Awareness of Hashem. The wish of the Egyptians led to their destruction. — A Nation is Born "Vayishma Yisro — Yisro hearkened" and he came. What did he hear? He heard what Hashem did to Egypt... Even though he knew that the Am Yisrael was the chosen nation, but what that meant he couldn’t appreciate until he heard of what had happened to Paroah...Yisro was a gentile. But because of his ability to listen he was elevated and he is enthroned among the greatest in our history. -- Repenting in Happiness (#17)
When Hashem first spoke to the whole nation of Israel, what did He say? He didn’t say, “I am Hashem who created the heavens and the earth.” He said, “Who took you out of Mitzrayim.” These are my credentials: “I took you out of Egypt.” — Pesach, Matzoh and Maror (#638)
Thus the affliction in Egypt was the time of Israel’s chief greatness, for their cry to Hashem gained for them such excellence that made them worthy of being redeemed to become Hashem’s people. — A Nation is Born
It was something to see: two million people were in Jerusalem for the Korban Pesach (Passover sacrifice). The streets were jammed. There was no place even to sit. As they ate the Korban Pesach, they were singing Hallel (praise). The gemara says the Hallel was so powerful that the roofs of Yerushalayim were swaying up and down, almost caving in from the noise. It was a tremendous experience. — The Wedding Simcha, or Rebuilding the Ruins of Yerushalayim (#E-147)
[It was] the most severe of the Ten Plagues and therefore it was the last. But it was the most important (and most severe) because of the very great principle which it came to demonstrate, a principle which is second to the principle that Hashem created the Universe: the thesis that Israel is most important in Hashem’s eyes. "My son, My first-born is Israel.". — A Nation is Born
Outside, Death rode in the sky; but in the humble habitations of Israel the first seder was being celebrated. The Passing-Over (Pesach) of the houses of Israel was a portent of the process of history: the destruction of Time was to overwhelm nation after nation, but Israel and its eternal faith would survive and endure forever. — A Nation is Born
What greater gift could Hashem give anybody in this world that’s bigger than the Torah? But in order that they should accept the Torah, they needed another gift as a prelude, and that was the gift of tzaros (suffering). Pharaoh was even more influential than Moshe Rabbeinu in getting them to accept the Torah. -- Pesach, Matzoh and Maror (#638)
The Egyptians could have decided to expel the sons of Israel because they were foreigners and were too numerous. But Hashem arranged the events in Egypt in such manner that the "outstretched arm” of Hashem was unmistakably apparent. Both the bondage in Egypt and the deliverance from Egypt were intended to demonstrate the Presence of G-d. — A Nation is Born
Because the Shechinah (Divine Presence) dwells among the people of Israel (Bamidbar 35:34), anyone that joins the holy nation (Dvarim 7:6) is in proximity to Hashem; and those that together uphold His service in yeshivos and synagogues and in loyal observant Kehillos (communities), are thereby close to Hashem "Who dwells amidst the sons of Israel." — Fortunate Nation
When Hashem gave the Torah, it wasn’t a case where Moshe came out of his tent and said “fellow Israelites, a voice spoke to me and told me this.” They didn’t believe because Moshe Rabbeinu told them. They heard what he heard. The entire nation heard. By the way, there isn’t a single nation in the world to ever claim anything remotely similar. — Eternal Sanctuary of Marriage (#516)
A simple piece of bread has within it all the components that will supply a person with materials for his hair, his eyes, his blood, his marrow, his bones, his spleen, and all the secretions of his body. So when we look at a a piece of bread we are seeing a magical substance, a ness (miracle). When people understand that, their minds become open and they begin to appreciate how good This World is. -- Ohr Avigdor Shaar Habechinah
"LET ME PASS OVER AND I SHALL SEE THE GOOD LAND..." (Devarim 3:25).
Moshe desired to gain the physical sensation of happiness which would result from actual seeing, rather than merely knowing. The exultation of the faculties of the body, while it is still alive, transmits to the soul of the viewer a thrill of gratitude and love of Hashem that far transcends the emotions gained from mere knowledge. -- Fortunate Nation It is impossible to understand the book of Leviticus (and also all of the Torah) unless we consider the following: the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting) was the most important place in the entire Universe. The acts of service here are therefore the most important of all the acts performed anywhere, and the events that transpire in and around the Mishkan (Tabernacle) are the events upon which the Creator concentrates His sole attention, — Kingdom of Kohanim
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