Our “ashes” — the physical, day-to-day part of our lives — also really belong on the Mizbeach. On the lowest level, the ashes are taken outside to a pure place, meaning our regular life may feel separate from holiness, but we still live it with the intention of making time for Torah, tefillah, and mitzvos. A deeper level is when the ashes are placed next to the Mizbeach — even in our normal routine we see Hashem’s presence and holiness. But the deepest level is to know that even our ashes truly belong on the Mizbeach itself: that our physical life is not just a preparation for serving Hashem, but itself a constant way of serving Him — and the only reason we “take the ashes off” and go out into the world is to make space to bring another korban, to do another mitzvah and more good deeds.

לקו״ש כה-ג