B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 25, 5779 / August 26, 2019

One of the many mitzvot in this week's Parsha, Re'ay, is the mitzvah of Tzedakah - charity.  The Torah says that we must be charitable to the stranger, the orphan, the widow and the poor.

"If there be among you a needy person... you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother...  because for this the L-rd your G-d will bless you in all your work and in all that you put your hands to."

In essence, all 613 mitzvot are rooted and based on the concept of charity because performing any mitzvah brings goodness and spirituality into this world for everyone’s benefit.

In addition to the physical act of giving charity, we must also perform it with heart and soul.  The Torah states, "You shall give him and your heart shall not grieve when you give to him because for this the L-rd your G-d will bless you in all your work."

The Talmud teaches us, "Whoever gives charity to the poor is blessed with six blessings; and whoever speaks to him soothing words is blessed with eleven blessings.  Thus, one who gives charity in a manner that comforts the poor person receives seventeen (6+11) blessings! This has the same numerical value as the Hebrew word, "Tov," which means "good."

In Proverbs it says, "The mitzvot are compared to a candle.”  Our

sages explain the comparison as follows: "Just as from one candle a person can light many candles without diminishing any light from the original candle, so too, through the performance of the mitzvah of giving charity, one's wealth is not diminished."

In fact, our sages tell us that the mitzvah of giving the tithes to the poor and needy is expressed in this Parsha with the words, "Aser TeAser" which can also be read as "Aser TeAsher" which means "give tithes and you shall be wealthy."  The Torah tells us that through giving tithes (charity) one will gain wealth.

The Talmud makes the following analogy about charity.  Two sheep were crossing the river.  One was sheared and the other not.  The one full of wool mocked the sheared one for letting herself be sheared.  But as they went deeper into the water, its wool absorbed the water and it sank. The one who was sheared made it across safely. 

So too, says the Talmud, "Whoever 'shears' his possessions and gives charity will make it across safely and be saved in this world and in the World-to-Come. "

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

In loving memory of Miriam Altman - Miriam bat Leib- Yartzeit is today, Av 25.

May her memory be a blessing.  May her soul rest in peace in Gan Eden

From her children, grandchildren & great grandchildren.

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