B"H
Wednesday, Sivan 20, 5784 / June 26, 2024
This week’s Parsha, Shlach, begins with the sending of the 12 spies to scout the Land of Canaan (Israel). This exhibited their lack of trust in G-d, Who promised them that the land was a good land. When 10 of the spies came back with a negative report, they refused to go to the land. As a result, G-d didn’t bring them into Canaan-Israel. Instead, they stayed another 38 years in the desert.
The Parsha ends with the mitzvah of Tzitzit: "And G-d spoke to Moshe saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say unto them that they shall make fringes [Tzitzit] on the corners of their garments... and they shall put with the fringe of every corner a thread of blue... so that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of G-d and observe them..." We perform this mitzvah by wearing the Tallit (prayer shawl), a four cornered garment with tzitzit on each corner, every day, for the morning prayer.
Q. How does the mitzvah of Tzitzit remind us of all the mitzvot?
A. The numerical value of the Hebrew word Tzitzit (90+10+90+10+400) is 600. Each Tzitzah has 8 strings and 5 knots, which is 13. Together they add up to 613 which is the total amount of mitzvot. By looking at the Tzitzit, we remember (or should remember) to perform all the mitzvot.
A wealthy diamond merchant travelled to the fair far from his home, to purchase diamonds, which he would bring back to his city and make a handsome profit. One day, after making his purchases and preparing to make the trip back home, someone approached him and said, "I have some diamonds which I must sell immediately. I will sell them for a fraction of their cost if you buy them right now."
After examining the merchandise, he realized that this was indeed a great deal. But he had already spent all his money. All he had left was enough to cover the expenses for the way home, but he felt that he couldn't pass up a deal like this.
"Instead of staying in luxury hotels and eating good meals, I will buy these diamonds and make do with very little on the way," he decided. He bought the diamonds and traveled back to his home like a poor beggar. He slept in run-down hotels and ate lousy meals together with other poor travelers.
One of his friends met him entering one of the dingy hotels. "Why do you suffer in such conditions, when you can afford good accommodations and fine foods?" asked the friend. He told his friend how he spent all his money to purchase the diamonds from which he stands to make an enormous profit.
"But knowing the lifestyle which you are used to, I don't understand how you can tolerate living in such terrible accommodations and eat such cheap food," asked the friend. He replied. "But, when I look at the diamonds I bought and realizing the potential profit awaiting me, it makes the sacrifice worthwhile.”
The same is with the mitzvah of Tzitzit. G-d gave us this mitzvah as a daily reminder of all the mitzvot. The Tzitzit reminds us of all the 613 mitzvot and the great benefit and reward we stand to receive for observing them, making it easier on a daily basis to overcome all obstacles and perform all the mitzvot.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.