Two days ago in shul we read about the instructions Hashem gave Aharon for what to do after the untimely death of his two sons, Nadav and Avihu. Two days ago, my coworker unexpectedly, suddenly, prematurely died. It's peculiar because the rabbis always discuss how Aharon was silent in the face of his sons' death. However, I wonder if any of them took into consideration how merciful Hashem's instructions are. At face value, when we read the parasha of Acharei Mot it comes across as a cold, ...
Judaism
Messy Musings
I've started about 3 different posts which I immediately saved to drafts. Nothing seems to be flowing easily. Maybe it's from eating all that matzah? Maybe it's exhaustion from the holiday and then all this overtime? Maybe it's just the fact some days, some weeks, writing is difficult, and that's when you have to write all the more. That's when you write "harder". I'm sure there's a great metaphor or allegory I could utilise comparing physical exercise, strength building, or whatever ...
Why is it Different?
There's been a question perplexing me for about two weeks now. As we say, "On all other nights, we eat both chametz and matzah, but on this night we eat only matzah." Here's my question: what's the the difference between the chametz and the matzah? Or rather, what's the difference between the carbs of Pesach and the carbs the rest of the year? Usually the jokes before, during, and after Pesach are about craving carbs. However, as I realised and then heard my rebbetzin say a few days later ...
Returning Home
Pesach [Passover] begins tomorrow evening. I'm listening to The Prince of Egypt soundtrack. Later, I'll be getting my last bagel before the upcoming 8 days of matzah (B''H). And for whatever reason, I can't stop thinking of home. I miss it. Of course, I don't mean Texas from where I hail. I mean Israel. I mean Jerusalem. These past few weeks, the desire to go back has been aching again. Then again, it never really goes away. It just ebbs and flows with intensity. It's been almost 3 ...
Gather the Sparks
There is a Jewish fairy tale about how Hashem gathered Himself [Ein Sof] into ten jars or vessels before He created the world. As He spoke those first words, "Let there be light," the ten vessels broke scattering the light of the Ein Sof throughout the physical world. It is now our role to find this light, to find it within ourselves and others, and let it shine to bring glory back to Hashem. I have written before about how I feel and know that it is my role on this Earth to write, ...
