Parshas Vaeira

" I'm glad that I gave you that big order on Monday. That was our biggest
client's largest order, and today was the deadline."
"I didn't get a chance to do it, because I had I had to straighten out
my messy office."

"And they (Bnai Yisroel) didn't listen to Moshe ...because of hard
labor (the slavery of Egypt)." The Mesillas Yesharim (chapter 2) says that
Pharaoh had the Jews do so much work, so that they wouldn't have a
chance to think about freedom. Similarly, the Mesillas Yesharim says, we get
so involved in petty matters, that we never find the time for important
matters like evaluating our actions and our relationship with G-d.

How well do you utilize your time ??

Have a great Shabbos !!

Rabbi Chaim Flom

Dear Rabbi Flom,
I always like your usage of a sometimes exaggerated anecdote, but do you have any subtle applications up your sleeve?
Thanks.
Mark

Dear Mark,
Thanks for the note.
As a matter of fact, I do have "something up my sleeve". My example was about a silly reason for messing up. In actuality, sometimes we do things which ARE important, but we still miss the boat. For example, if I daven (pray), but I do it by rote (auto pilot), I've diminished my opportunity to become close to Hashem. I know people will say, "what do you mean, he's doing a mitzva??" , bottom line is, the Prophets blasted us for doing mitzvos by rote, we don't have kavana (intent), and davening is called "avodas halev", service of the heart.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom