B"H

Tuesday, Shevat 23, 5782 / January 25, 2022

In this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim we find many mitzvot associated with helping others, being generous, giving charity and helping the needy.  Here are two stories of the Talmudic sages.

One of the Talmudic sages was called, Rabbi Nachum Ish Gam Zu.  The reason he was called, “Gam Zu” is because no matter what happened to him, even in a very difficult situation, Rabbi Nachum would always say, "Gam Zu L'Tovah" - “This too is for the good.”

In his later years, Rabbi Nachum Ish Gam Zu was blind, his hands and feet were paralyzed, his whole body was full of pain and he lived in great poverty.  Once, his house was in danger of collapsing.  His students wanted to move out Rabbi Nachum. But he said to them, "First move out my belongings, after that take me out of the house, for as long as I am in the house, it will not collapse!"  

The students did as they were told.  No sooner had they taken Rabbi Nachum out of the house, the house collapsed.  The students asked him, "You are such a righteous person why are you suffering?"

Rabbi Nachum replied: "It’s my own fault, I brought it upon myself.  Once, I was going to my father-in-law and I had with me three donkeys laden with all kinds of food. As I came to the house, a poor man approached me and said, 'Rabbi, give me something to eat.'  I answered, ‘Wait until I will unload the donkeys and then I will feed you.’  But I wasn't fast enough, and the poor man died.  

When I saw this, I prayed to G-d; "My eyes that didn't have pity on the eyes of the poor man should become blind.  My hands and feet that didn't have pity on the poor man should be paralyzed.  I still wasn't satisfied and accepted pain on my entire body."

When the students heard this, they said, "Woe to us that we see you like this!"   Rabbi Nachum said to his students, "Woe to me if you wouldn't see me like this, for these sufferings will help me to be forgiven for what I have done!"  This story teaches the importance of not delaying helping one in need!

Another Talmudic storyabout the greatness of the mitzvah of charity: Rabbi Akiva had a daughter whom stargazers forecast would die on her wedding day.  This caused Rabbi Akiva much worry. 

On her wedding night, when she went to bed, she took a golden brooch from her headdress and stuck it into the wall.  In the morning, she was shocked to see a dead poisonous snake, with her golden brooch pierced through its eye!  She ran to tell her father.

"My daughter," asked Rabbi Akiva, "what have you done to deserve such a miracle?"

She replied, "At my wedding, a poor man came asking for a meal to satisfy his hunger.  I saw that everyone was too busy, so I got up and gave him my own portion that you, father, had personally served me."  

"That's it!" her father exclaimed.  "The Mitzvah saved your life!"

HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY

B"H

Friday, Shevat 26, 5782 / January 28, 2022

This week’s Parsha , Mishpatim, comes right after Parshat Yitro in which we read about the Giving of the Ten Commandments and the Torah on Mount Sinai.

The 613 mitzvot of the Torah are generally divided in two categories; 1) Mitzvot which are between us and G-d; 2) Mitzvot between one person and another. The Ten Commandments are also divided into these two categories. 

In Parshat Mishpatim we find many of the laws of the Torah which deal between one person and another.  The name Mishpatim refers to the laws which are crucial for society to function.  

The barometer whether a person is truly pious, is also how they behave toward another fellow human being. This is why the laws in the category of Mishpatim (between man and man) comes right after and in connection with the Giving of the Torah, which begins with, “I am G-d your G-d.”  A true G-d fearing person behaves properly not only toward G-d, but also toward another human being.

One of the mitzvot in this week's Parsha, Mishpatim, is the commandment to help the poor and needy whether through charity or a loan.  The Torah says, "When you will lend money to My people, to the poor with you, you shall not press him, neither shall you place upon him interest... for when he will cry to Me, I will hear for I am merciful."

In Proverbs (19) we are told that the charity (tzedakah) one gives to the poor is in essence "a loan to G-d Who is trustworthy to repay." Our sages explain that G-d repays not only the amount which we gave to charity, but He pays back much more in ways which only He can.  G-d says, "You have helped the poor person when he was hungry and thus kept him alive, I will repay you also a soul for a soul, by saving your child's life when he/she will be in need."

The above mentioned verse in the Parsha regarding charity, "For when he will cry to Me, I will hear for I am merciful," in addition to speaking about the cry of the poor man in need, it can also be explained as the cry of the one who gives the charity.  G-d says, “If you will be generous and help the poor, then when you will be in need and cry to Me for help, I will hear your request for I am merciful."

Rabbi Schneur Zalmen, founder of Chabad, would collect money to support the needy in Israel.  He would send collectors to the cities and villages where his Chassidim lived.

One Chassid earned his livelihood by peddling his wares throughout the area. Whenever he made an extraordinary deal which earned him extra money, he would attribute it to the fact that there was a special need for charity.  "I'm sure," he would say, "that when I come home one of the Rebbe's collectors will be waiting for me!" When G-d blesses us with success, there is a reason. It may be because there is someone out there who needs our help.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 4:37 / Shabbat ends: 5:44

B"H

Monday, Shevat 29, 5782 / January 31, 2022

This week's Parsha, Terumah, is about the Jewish people’s contributions for the building of the Mishkan-Tabernacle in the desert. The Parsha begins, "And G-d spoke to Moshe saying: 'Speak to the Children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.”

G-d told Moshe to collect the contributions for the construction of the Mishkan-Tabernacle. The purpose is stated in the Parsha, "And they shall make Me a sanctuary so that I shall dwell among them."

Q.   Why does Parshat Terumah, where G-d commands to construct the Mishkan, come right after Parshat Yitro and Mishpatim, in which we read about the Giving of The Torah to the Jewish people?

A.  The Midrash explains it with the following parable:  A great and mighty king loved his only daughter dearly.  When the time came for her to get married, she married a prince from another country.

After they were married, the prince wanted to take his wife back to his country.  When the king realized that his only child was about to move away, he said to his son-in-law, "You know how much I love my daughter.  Until now I enjoyed her company greatly and now I will miss her.  Thus, I ask of you only one favor.  Wherever you and my daughter will live, please build a home for me next to yours so that I can come and stay near you."

The same is with the Torah and the people of Israel.  For thousands of years, the Torah was in G-d’s possession - in heaven. Now, after we read in Parshat Yitro and Mishpatim that G-d gave the Torah away to the Jewish people, He requests, "Make Me a sanctuary, so that I shall dwell among them!”

The Midrash explains that when G-d told Moshe to build a sanctuary so that He may rest among them, Moshe said to G-d, "Your glory fills the heaven and earth!  How can we possibly build a structure in which You can dwell?" G-d replied, "I do not ask the impossible. I do not ask that they build according to My means but according to theirs. Do the best you can and I will dwell amongst you!

The Midrash tells that Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa, who was very righteous, yet very poor, once saw a nicely shaped rock which he wanted to bring as a gift to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. However, the rock was too heavy for him to carry and he couldn't afford to pay porters to deliver it to Jerusalem.

Rabbi Chanina prayed to G-d. Soon five angels in the form of people appeared. They immediately offered to carry the rock for free to Jerusalem, although with the condition that Rabbi Chanina put his finger to the rock and help them carry it. 

Our sages explain that the angels didn't need Rabbi Chanina's help. But G-d wants us to try to the best ofOUR ability, then He will take care of the rest. All G-d wants from us is that we do the best WE can.

This year is a Hebrew leap year, thus there are two months of Adar.Tonight (Monday night), Tuesday & Wednesday is Rosh Chodesh Adar 1.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL DAY