B"H

Tuesday, Elul 16, 5781 / August 24, 2021

Shabbat we read Parshat Ki Tavo (Deut. chapter 26). The Parsha, like the rest of the Torah was said while Jews were still in the desert. It begins with the mitzvah of "Bikurim" - offering of the "first fruits".  This mitzvah applied only after they conquered the Promised Land and settled it, which took 14 years.

The Torah states: "When you come to the land which G-d your G-d will give you for an inheritance, and you will possess it and dwell in it. You shall take of the first fruit of the land which G-d your G-d gives you and put them in a basket and go to the place which G-d will choose His name to dwell there.” 

The basket of fruit was brought to the Temple and given to the Kohen (priest). The person would thank G-d for taking Jews out of Egyptian slavery and for all the miracles G-d has done for the Jewish people and, “For bringing us to this place and giving us this land, a land that flows milk & honey."

The Torah concludes the mitzvah of Bikurim with the following, "And you shall rejoice in all the good which G-d your G-d has given you and to your household."  

Although the mitzvah of Bikurim doesn’t apply today, as we have no Temple, yet, the lesson and message of this mitzvah is valid today.

The mitzvah of Bikurim teaches us that before we enjoy the bounty and blessings which G-d gives us, we must first give back what belongs to Him. This is accomplished by giving a share to Tzedakah and providing for the poor and needy.

"And you shall rejoice in all the good which G-d your G-d has given you." The mitzvah of Bikurim also teaches us to be happy and rejoice with whatever we have. 

Q.   How can a person always be happy and rejoice?

A.   The Torah gives us the answer in this verse, "And you shall rejoice in all the good which G-d your G-d has given you."   

A person who thinks that whatever wealth they accumulated is their own doing may feel that they could have done better etc, and thus be unhappy. A person who believes that whatever he or she has is a gift from G-d, then they will not be jealous of others and thus truly rejoice and be satisfied and happy in life.

Our sages say; "Who is a wealthy person, one who is happy with their lot!" 

It is not wealth which brings a person happiness. It is happiness and satisfaction which produces wealth!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

& SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

B"H

Thursday, Elul 18, 5781 / August 26, 2021

Parshat Ki Tavo, which we read this Shabbat, begins with the mitzvah of "Bikurim" - offering of the "First Fruits" to the Kohen (priest). The Parsha also speaks about giving the tithes, “to the Levite, to the convert, to the orphan and to the widow, so they can eat to their satisfaction.” This is the mitzvah of tzedakah (charity), helping the poor and needy. 

The Torah singles out the convert, the orphan and widow, because usually they need assistance. But this mitzvah applies to anyone who is in need.

Q. The Torah says, "And you shall rejoice in all the good which the L-rd, your G-d, has given you and to your household.” How can one rejoice when giving tzedakah, when they are now missing that amount?

A. Our sages explain that everything belongs to G-d!  Whatever we have is a gift from G-d. G-d gave it to us with certain conditions.  One of the conditions is that we help others. Thus, the money intended for tzedakah is not ours to begin with. It was given to us to distribute to the poor, so that we can have the mitzvah of tzedakah and thus continue the flow of G-d’s blessings.

Rabbi Zusia of Anipoli, a very righteous and pious man, who spent his time in prayer and study of Torah, was a very poor man.  One of the people in Anipoli recognized his great piety and supplied all his material needs.  As a result, G-d blessed this man with wealth.

Once, the benefactor came to the synagogue looking for Rabbi Zusia.  He was told that Rabbi Zusia went to Mezritch to visit his Rabbi and teacher, Rabbi Dov Ber.

"If for helping Rabbi Zusia, G-d sent me such blessings; how much more will I be blessed, if I will provide the needs of his Rabbi and teacher who must be even more pious than Rabbi Zusia!" he said to himself.

From that day on, the man stopped helping Rabbi Zusia.  Instead, he gave it all to Rabbi Dov Ber. But from then on his business started going downhill.  After a while, he realized that he had erred. He came to Rabbi Zusia and begged his forgiveness for neglecting him. Rabbi Zusia quickly forgave him.  The man then took the opportunity to ask Rabbi Zusia, "Why, when I helped you, G-d blessed me. Yet when I helped your teacher, who must be greater than you, G-d took away His blessings?"

Rabbi Zusia replied, "G-d treats us as we treat others.”  As long as you helped me, without calculating whether I was deserving or not, G-d helped you too, regardless whether you were deserving or not. 

But when you decided to help only one who is most righteous and deserving, G-d, in turn, did the same. He started looking into whether you were most righteous and deserving. That's when your luck went the other way!"

Today, the 18^th of Elul is the birthday of Rabbi Israel, Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement. It is also the birthday of Rabbi Shneur Zalmen of Liadi, founder of Chabad. May their memory be a blessing to us all.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA

B"H

Friday, Elul 19, 5781 / August 27, 2021

Q.   After reciting the Kiddush at the Rosh Hashana evening meal, we recite the Hamotzi-blessing over the Challah-bread.  Instead of dipping the slice of bread into salt, as we do all year, we dip it into honey. Why?

A.     This is an expression of our plea and desire for a sweet New Year.  We pray that G-d grant us a sweet, happy, healthy, and good New Year.

Also, the sweetness of honey is a result of the bees collecting sweet nectar from many flowers.  So too, we pray that G-d collect all the mitzvot and good deeds performed by everyone.  Together, they will surely provide the merits we need to have a happy, healthy, successful, and very sweet year.

On Rosh Hashana we ask first and foremost to be inscribed in the Book of Life and good health. 

In the hustle bustle of day-to-day life our priorities may at times become distorted and we sometimes forget to appreciate the miracle called life and good health which G-d grants us every second of every day.

A chassid once came to his Rebbe complaining that he had a bad year financially.  The Rebbe asked him, "How is your health and the health of your family?" 

The chassid replied that health was, thank G-d, good.  The Rebbe told him to have trust in G-d and quoted him the words of the Talmud, "He Who gives life will surely provide sustenance!"

The Rebbe went on to explain the words of the Talmud with the following parable, "A wealthy businessman was traveling home from the fair and had with him a large sum of money.  The way home was long and for Shabbat he stopped at an inn run by a Jewish innkeeper.

"As it is not permitted to carry money on Shabbat, the businessman had no choice but to give his wallet of money to the innkeeper for safekeeping until after Shabbat.  The wallet contained 5,000 rubles plus 5 pennies.

"All Shabbat the businessman was worried whether the innkeeper was trustworthy and will he return his money.  Immediately after Shabbat he asked for his wallet which the innkeeper returned.

"The merchant quickly went back to his room to count the money.  He counted the rubles and found the 5,000 rubles intact." 

The Rebbe now turned to his chassid and said, "Do you think that after seeing that the innkeeper was honest and gave back the 5000 rubles, would the businessman be worried if he kept the five pennies?  Only a fool would suspect the innkeeper of not giving back the five pennies!"

"The same is with you. G-d gave you and your family life and health which is worth far more than anything else in the world.  Don't you think that you can also trust Him to give you your livelihood?  If you have true faith that G-d gives you life and health, you will automatically have faith that He will bless you in your dealings and will provide you with your livelihood as well.  For, "He Who gives life will surely give sustenance!"

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:23 / Shabbat ends: 8:25