Tuesday, Iyar 9, 5778 (24th day of Sefirah) / April 24 2018
B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 9, 5778 (24th day of Sefirah) / April 24 2018
In the third chapter of Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Elazar from Bartusa says, "Give to Him [G-d] of that which is His, for you and everything which belongs to you are His.”
Rabbi Elazar teaches us that the money that the Torah requires us to contribute to charity doesn’t belong to us in the first place. Rather, G-d entrusted us with it to give to the poor on His behalf.
Therefore, say our sages, when we give charity we become G-d's messengers to carry out His will. When we fulfill G-d’s mission to His satisfaction, he will be happy to entrust him with more missions. The reward for the mitzvah of Tzedakah, is that G-d enables us to perform more of the same mitzvot.
The Talmud tells the following story: Rabbi Elazar of Bartusa was very generous. Once, he went out to shop for his daughter's wedding. When the charity collectors saw him, they said to each other, "Let's leave before Rabbi Elazar sees us! He will give away his last coin for charity."
When Rabbi Elazar noticed that the collectors were turning away from him, he ran after them and insisted that they tell him about their cause. "A boy and girl who are orphans want to get married. We are collecting for their wedding." When Rabbi Elazar heard this, he said, "The orphans are more important than my daughter." He gave them all the money he had, except for one small coin.
With his last coin, he bought some wheat. He put the wheat in the shed near his house and went to the synagogue to pray. When his wife came home, she asked her daughter, "Where are the things your father bought?" The daughter answered, "In the shed." Rabbi Elazar's wife went to the shed but she couldn't open the door. When she managed to open the door, it was full of wheat floor to ceiling.
His daughter ran to tell her father about the miracle that just occurred. "Now we can sell the wheat and we will have more than enough to make the wedding," she said. Rabbi Elazar replied, "This is a miracle and we don't deserve to enjoy it more than others who are in need." He called the poor people of the town and told them that the wheat was theirs as much as his.
On the lighter side: Two poor brothers regularly visited Baron Rothschild for alms. Once a month, Rothschild's treasurer would give them 200 marks, 100 marks for each of them.
Then one of the brothers died. The next month the remaining brother approached the treasurer, and told him of his brother's death. He was given 100 marks.
"Why only 100 marks," he protested. "I'm entitled to 200 marks!" "But your brother is dead. His 100 marks is withdrawn!" replied the treasurer.
"This is not just," retorted the beggar. "Who is my brother's heir -- me or Mr. Rothschild?"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Iyar 8, 5778 (23rd day of Sefirah) / April 23 2018
B"H
Monday, Iyar 8, 5778 (23rd day of Sefirah) / April 23 2018
This Shabbat, in the Diaspora, we read two Torah portions from Leviticus, Acharei Mot & Kedoshim.
Of the many mitzvot (commandments) in Parshat Kedoshim we read, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall rebuke your fellow [when they do something wrong], but you shall not bear a sin [by embarrassing him in public]. You shall not take revenge, nor bear a grudge against the members of your people. You shall love your fellow as yourself. I am G-d.”
Q. “You shall love your fellow as yourself.” Can a person truly love someone else like themselves?
A. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev explains it as follows: No person is perfect. Every person knows that they have faults and sometimes many faults. Yet, with all the faults that one has, they still love themselves and want the best for themselves. Says the Torah, “Love you fellow like yourself,” - just as you don’t let your own faults stop you from loving yourself, so too, don’t let the other person’s faults get in the way of loving them!”
Another explanation: If a person hurts themselves by accident, they wouldn’t think of hating and punishing their own hand which caused them the pain. It would only be adding more pain! So too, says the Torah, “You shall not take revenge, nor bear a grudge against the members of your people. You shall love your fellow as yourself. I am G-d.” One should view their fellow as themselves.
Q. Why, after, “You shall love your fellow as yourself,”does the Torah add, “I am G-d.”
A. Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzin explains it with the following episode: A man was once sentenced to be put to death. As they were leading him to the gallows his friend came running, screaming on top of his lungs, “Don’t hang him. He is not guilty! I am the guilty one!” At the same time the one being led to the gallows said, “Don’t believe him. He is lying, I am guilty!”
The case was brought back to the king who told the judges to re-examine the case. The case was re-opened and in the end both were found not guilty. The king then asked them, “Both of you knew that you were innocent, why did each of you claim that you committed the crime?”
Each one replied, “I love my friend with all my heart and I knew that he was innocent. I was ready to do anything, even give my life, so that he would live!” The king then exclaimed, “With such two great friends, please accept me as a friend too!”
G-d says, “Love your fellow as yourself, I am G-d.” Between friends who love each other as themselves, I too want to be there (“I am G-d”), as your friend!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Thursday, Iyar 4, 5778 (19th day of the Omer) / April 19, 2018
B"H
Thursday, Iyar 4, 5778 (19th day of the Omer) / April 19, 2018
Today Israel celebrates, “Yom Ha’atzma’ut” - “Independence day.” In other years it would be on the 5th of Iyar, but being that the 5th of Iyar is Friday and the celebrations may cause a violation of Shabbat observance, it is proclaimed the 4th of Iyar.
We thank G-d every day for choosing us as His Holy nation and giving us the Holy Land. It is nothing short of a miracle that we have been able to defend Israel for the past 70 years against overwhelming odds which were, and are, stacked against us to this very day. It is only because G-d is with us, as the Torah says, “For He is the One Who gives you the power to do battle.”
This made me think that it would also be appropriate to call this day, “Dependence Day,” – to recognize that Israel’s existence is constantly dependenton G-d.
In fact, for the past 3000 years we were always a dependent and independent people at the same time. We were always dependent on G-d and independent of anyone else. This is the secret of our 3000 year existence, while many of the nations who opressed us are long gone. We have always been a “dependent” people.. not on other nations, but on Hashem. As a result, our Jewish spirit and Neshama was always independent, even in the worst of physical times. This is the secret of our being here today, enjoying our 3000 year old culture, religion, identity and Holy Land.
Jewish independence is a result of our firm dependence on Hashem, as Moshe told the Jewish people, “Because of your connection to G-d, you are all alive today.” We must recognize that.
The mikveh (ritual bath) in the city of Premishlan, was located behind a steep mountain. During the summer months the people would take the short route to the mikveh, which went over the mountain. But, in the winter, when the mountain was covered with snow and ice, it was dangerous to go up and down the mountain, so they would take the long way and go around the mountain.
The Chassidic Rabbi of Premishlan, Rabbi Meir, would take the shortcut all year round. He would go over the mountain even in the winter and would always safely get to the mikveh and back. People spoke with admiration about their illustrious holy rabbi, how G-d watched and protected him.
There were a few wise guys who made fun of the people who viewed this as a miracle. They said, “This is no great deal. We can do it too.” One winter day, they started climbing up the mountain to prove their point. Half way up, they lost their footing.. slipped and rolled down the mountain, hurting themselves badly. When they recovered, they came to Rabbi Meir and asked for his forgiveness. Then they said, “Rabbi we recognize that this is not humanly possible. How do youdo it?”
Rabbi Meir replied, “When one is connected on high.. they do not fall below..” It is because we are connected to G-d that He protects us down here. In our dependencelies the secret of our independence. Am Yisrael Chai– Long live Israel. Amen.
HAVE A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND WONDERFUL DAY
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