B"H
Thursday, Shevat 29, 5781 / February 11, 2021
One of the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, is the mitzvah of Tzedakah– charity.
Tzedakah and acts of kindness can be performed in many different ways. One can be charitable by giving money or food to someone in need. Tzedakah can also be in the form of Gemilas Chasadim - lendingmoney to someone who is need, but who will eventually be able to pay back. Helping someone in a spiritual way, such as teaching Torah, giving proper direction and good advice is also tzedakah.
The following excerpts are from the Talmudic sages concerning Tzedakah – charity: Rabbi Asi said, “Charity equals in importance as all other mitzvot combined.
Rabbi Eliezer said, “Greater is the one who does charity than he who offers all the sacrifices, for it is said, ‘To do charity and justice is more acceptable to G-d than sacrifice.’”
Rabbi Yehuda used to say, “Ten strong things have been created in the world. The mountain is hard, but iron splits it. Iron is hard, but fire softens it. Fire is powerful, but water quenches it. Water is heavy but the clouds carry it. Clouds are thick, but winds scatter them. Wind is strong, but a body resists it. The body is strong, but fear crushes it. Fear is powerful, but wine banishes it. Wine is strong, but sleep works it off. Death is stronger than all, yet, it is written, “Charity delivers from death!”
A Talmudic tale: Once two pupils of Rabbi Chanina went into the forest to cut wood. An astrologer saw the two disciples enter the forest and remarked, "I see that these two will not return alive!
As they were about to enter the forest, an old man encountered them and said, "Please give me some food, it is three days since I had anything to eat." The two disciples had with them one loaf of bread, so they broke it in half and gave half to the old man. After he finished eating, he blessed them and said, "Just as you saved my life today, so may your lives be spared." At the end of the day, the two disciples came out of the forest with their load of wood.
Seeing the two pupils alive and well, the people said to the astrologer, "Didn’t you predict that they wouldn't return alive? You’re a liar!”
The astrologer was puzzled. He called the two disciples over to him and said, "May I examine the bundles which you are carrying?” They agreed. Taking their bundles apart, the astrologer found a poisonous snake, cut in half; half in one bundle and the other half in the other bundle.
Turning to them, he asked, "What good deed did you do today that saved your lives?" The two disciples told everyone about the starving old man and how they saved his life with their half loaf of bread.
"That saved your life," exclaimed the astrologer. "What can I do if the G-d of the Jews can be appeased with half a loaf of bread?!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY