B"H

Friday, Menachem Av 29, 5779 / August 30, 2019

This Shabbat we read Parshat Re’ay, in the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).. 

Shabbat is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, which is the last month of this year, 5779. Sunday is the second day Rosh Chodesh. From Rosh Chodesh Elul there are four weeks until Rosh Hashana.

Many times in this Parsha we find the mitzvah of Tzedakah - helping the less fortunate.  The Torah states, "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."

Q.   First the Torah says, “If there be among youa needy person,” then the Torah says, “nor shut your hand from yourneedy brother.”   Why does the Torah first speak about helping, “any needy person” and then about helping “your needy brother”?  

A.  There are those who will contribute generously to strangers and all kinds of charitable causes which bring them honor and recognition.  But helping one’s family members is not something which brings a person special recognition. Thus the Torah specifies that one must also be charitable to relatives even if there are no special banquets, plaques or announcements of recognition connected to it.

Q.   Giving charity is a great mitzvah.  Why don’t we recite a special blessing when performing this mitzvah, as we do with all other mitzvot?

A.   We do not recite a blessing when the performance of the mitzvah depends on the participation of another person.  For reciting a blessing in vain is a grave sin and if the other person decides not to participate, then one has uttered G-d’s name in vain.  The performance of the mitzvah of giving charity depends on the acceptance of the poor person.  If we recite the blessing and the poor person decides not to take the charity, we have made a blessing in vain, thus the rabbis didn’t establish a blessing for this mitzvah.

Another reason:  The sages did not want the poor person to have to wait even an extra minute to receive the help.  Not even the time it takes to make the blessing. 

Another reason:  The mitzvah of giving charity can only be performed when there is a poor and needy person.  Our sages felt that it is not proper for one to recite a blessing for performing a mitzvah which involves another person’s misfortune.

SHABBAT  SHALOM & A WONDERFUL HEALTHY CHODESH-MONTH

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:18 / Shabbat ends: 8:21