B"H

Wednesday, Iyar 23, 5785 (38th day of the Omer) / May 21, 2025

The Torah reading for this Shabbat are the two final Parshiot in the third book of the Torah, B’har & Bechukotei. With this Shabbat reading, the third Book of the Torah, Leviticus (Vayikra), is concluded.

At the end of Parshat Bechukotei, the Torah commands that ten percentof one’s herd of cattle and sheep should be holy unto G-d. It was given every year to the kohen-priest.

The Torah says that the procedure for giving tithes from one’s herd of cattle was as follows. The cattle had to go through in a single line and every tenth animal was marked with a colored die. Then all the ones marked with the die were rounded up and given to the Kohen.

Q.Why does the Torah require that it be done exactly this way. One could simply count all the animals and then give away one tenth?

A.A Chassidic Rebbe once visited one of his disciples, a very wealthy man, but a miser who never gave any charity. The Chassid was very happy to welcome his Rebbe into his mansion. He gave the Rebbe a tour of his home, which was decorated with the most expensive furniture and paintings etc.

At every beautiful piece of furniture and painting the Rebbe stopped and asked the Chassid, “Is this really yours?” “Yes it is,” answered the Chassid. This went on for a long time.

Finally, the Chassid asked, “Why do you keep on asking me, “Is all this really yours?”

The Rebbe was waiting for the question. The Rebbe replied, “The Torah says that the way to give tithes from the animals is to have them go through a single line and count them; one, two three.. etc and every tenth was marked to be given away to charity. Why didn’t the Torah simply say, Give ten percent?

The answer is simple. Imagine if one has 1000 sheep and he has to give away 100 of them, it may be difficult for him. But this way, the owner counts: Onebelongs to me; twobelong to me; threebelong to me; fourbelong to me; fivebelong to me; sixbelong to me; sevenbelong to me; eightbelong to me; ninebelong to me. Now, psychologically it’s not so difficult to give the tenth one away.

“The same is with you,” explained the Rebbe. “I kept on asking you if all of this belongs to you.. I wanted you to realize how much G-d blessed you with.. How much YOUhave.. So, it’s only right that you should also help your brethren in need..” The Rebbe’s sincere words had their desired effect, and the Chassid became a very generous man.

Now we understand why the Torah wanted the owner to give his animal tithes in this manner. This way he will appreciate hisgreat blessings and will give his tithes happily to the Kohen-priest.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW