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Why does saying Ashrei three times daily guarantee a share in the World to Come? The verse 'umasbia l'chol chai ratzon' reveals that God provides not just sustenance but pleasure to all creation out of pure love. This recognition teaches us that even basic needs are expressions of divine chesed (חסד), creating the foundation for love-motivated service through both major and minor mitzvos.
This shiur begins with a Gemara (גמרא) in Brachos that states whoever says Ashrei three times daily is assured a share in the World to Come. The Gemara initially suggests this is because Ashrei follows alphabetical order (aleph-beis) and contains the verse about God feeding all (poseiach es yadecha), but the Vilna Gaon questions why other chapters with similar features don't have the same guarantee. The answer lies in Ashrei's unique phrase 'umasbia l'chol chai ratzon' - God satisfies all living things according to their will, indicating He provides not just sustenance but pleasure and satisfaction to all creation, whether they serve Him or not. The shiur then examines several related concepts. Regarding the Torah (תורה)'s repeated emphasis that mitzvos should be 'like today' (hayom), Rashi (רש"י) offers different explanations in different contexts. In Parshas Shema, it means mitzvos should feel fresh like a new royal decree. In Parshas Eikev, it means as if we heard them directly from God today. This distinction relates to two types of mitzvos: chamuras (weighty) and kalos (light).
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Brachos 4b
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