“And Avraham arose early in the morning, and he saddled his donkey.” (Bereishis 22:3)
Rashi states that although Avraham was wealthy, he personally saddled his donkey due to his love of Hashem. Says Rashi: “Ahavah mekalkeles es hashurah — Love distorts norms.”
Rashi (Shemos 4:20) adds that Avraham’s donkey will be the same beast that Mashiach arrives on.
At first glance, Mashiach’s form of transport seems appropriate due to its honor of being used previously in one of the great watershed events in Jewish history: the Akeidah. Yet Chazal (Sanhedrin 98a) state that if Bnei Yisrael are on a high spiritual level, they’ll merit the arrival of Mashiach on Heavenly clouds. If however, Mashiach arrives in his time, despite the fact that at that time we are still undeserving, he’ll arrive in a lowly manner, on a donkey. How can we explain this discrepancy? (Rabbi Nosson Greenberg, Khal Machzikei Torah).
After a long (and partly healthy life) my ancient van was heading toward retirement. The upcoming pension party drew many reactions from my kids.
“Are we getting a new van?”
“Nope, we don’t need such a big car now. We’re getting a five-seater.”
“We’re downsizing?” Avi shrieked, as if I’d just announced we’d be moving to a one-bedroom basement.
“We should get a Tesla,” he countered with confidence. “It’s the best five-seater on the market, and it’ll save us a ton of money in gas. (Can anyone actually tell me how many years it takes in gas savings to make up the difference in price tag?)
