B"H
Thursday, Shevat 25, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 16, 2023
One of the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, is the mitzvah of Tzedakah, to help those in need. If one is limited in their means, there are preferences in this mitzvah. Helping another Jew comes first. Helping a relative in need takes preference to helping a stranger. Helping someone who lives in your city takes preference over someone in another city.
Tzedakah and acts of kindness can be performed in many different ways. One can be charitable by giving money to someone in need. Tzedakah can also be in the form of Gemilas Chasadim - lendingmoney to someone who is in need now, but who will eventually be able to pay it back. Helping someone in a spiritual way, such as teaching Torah, giving proper direction and good advice is also a form of tzedakah-charity.
Rabbi Asi said, “Charity equals in importance as all other mitzvot combined.” (Tractate Baba Batra 9a).
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 sacrifices’” (Tractate Sukah 49b).
Rabbi Yehuda said, “Ten strong things have been created in the world. The rock [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. The wind is strong, but the 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!” (Tractate Baba Batra 10a).
The Talmud tells the following 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 men 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 him 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?!"
Helping one in need may be helping ourselves and more to our benefit than the person we think we are helping!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Shevat 26, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 17, 2023
This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim,is the first Parsha after the story of the Giving of the Torah. In this Parsha we find 53 of the 613 mitzvot.
The 613 mitzvot of the Torah are generally divided into two categories: 248 positive mitzvot - commandments which we are commanded to perform; and 365 prohibition mitzvot, which we are commanded not to do. All 613 mitzvot fall into three general categories: Eidut; Chukim; Mishpatim.
Eidutare mitzvot which serve as a testimony between us and G-d. For example, resting on Shabbat is testimony that G-d rested on the seventh day. Passover is testimony of the miracle of the Exodus etc.
Chukimare mitzvot which have no apparent logical reason. Example: The laws of Kashrut; the prohibition of eating pork; or not to wear wool and linen in one garment (Shatnez) etc. We observe these mitzvot only because G-d commanded us to do them or refrain from doing them.
Mishpatimare mostly laws of civil justice, such as, do not steal etc. They affect our relationship between one person to another. They fall within the realm of logic and reason. In fact, many secular societies may contain similar laws.
The name of the Parsha, Mishpatim, tells us that most of the mitzvot in this Parsha are such which teach us responsibility towards our fellow human being.
Q.Why is Parshat Mishpatim, which deals with mitzvot between one person and another, immediately after Parshat Yitro where we read about the Giving of the Torah? It would make more sense that immediately after the Giving of the Torah, G-d would tell us about our responsibilities toward Him?
A. We find the same thing in the Ten Commandments, where there is great emphasis on the mitzvot between man and man. Our performance of these mitzvot is a good barometer of our relationship toward G-d. One cannot separate the two, as Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa says, "If the spirit of one's fellow is pleased with him, the spirit of G-d is pleased with him; but if the spirit of one's fellow is not pleased with him the spirit of G-d is not pleased with him."
For this reason, Parshat Mishpatim comes right after the Giving of the Torah, to teach us the importance of the mitzvot which emphasize proper conduct and love amongst ourselves.
Rabbi Yechezkel of Kuzmir would say, "The Jewish people are compared to a box full of glass dishes. If the dishes are packed tightly, the box can be moved about and transported and none of the dishes will break. But if the dishes are packed loosely, they bang into each other and will easily break. We too, have to be tightly connected with each other, it is our guarantee of survival.”
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:06 / Shabbat ends: 6:10
B"H
Monday, Shevat 29, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 20, 2023
The five Parshiot, beginning with this week's Parsha, Terumah, until the end of the Book of Exodus, describe the instructions and the building of the Mishkan - the Tabernacle which the Jewish people built during their first year in the desert, after receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai.
Parshat Terumah describes the gifts and materials which the people of Israel were commanded to donate toward the construction of the Tabernacle. It specifies the materials and the instructions for the Mishkan and its contents. It gives us the measurements for the Mishkan and its components.
The Parsha begins, "And G-d spoke to Moshe saying: 'Speak to the Children of Israel, that theyshall take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing, you shall take my offering.”
Q. The Parsha speaks about the contribution which G-d commanded the people to donate toward the building of the Mishkan. Why does G-d tell Moshe to tell them, “Take for Me an offering”? G-d should have told Moshe to tell the people, “they shall GIVE for Me an offering?"
A. Our sages explain that the Torah teaches us here the proper attitude and approach to giving charity. When we give charity, we should know that in reality we are not only giving, but more than that, we are "taking." For, we TAKE much more in return from G-d than what we give to Him.
The Talmud puts it as follows: "The poor man, who receives charity, does far more for the rich man than what the rich man does for the poor one!" The blessings which result through giving charity are worth much more than the amount which we give.
Q. The Torah uses the word “Terumah” as “offering.” The word “Terumah” usually means “to elevate.” Why does the Torah use the term “Terumah” when speaking about contributing for the Mishkan-Temple?
A. When we perform a mitzvah, we “lift” the physical matter with which we perform the mitzvah from physical into the realm of the spiritual. By contributing their gold, silver and the other various items for the construction of the Mishkan, they “elevated” it to a higher level – from the physical to the realm of
G-dliness. So too, when we perform a mitzvah, we “elevate” the physical object and become elevated ourselves through connecting to a higher realm.
According to the Midrash, when Moshe heard G-d's request to build for Him a "dwelling place," he couldn't understand it. Moshe said, "You fill the entire heaven and earth! How can we build a structure which can contain you? How can a mortal being build a dwelling place for You?"
G-d replied, "I do not ask that you build a sanctuary according to My ability, but rather according to your capability. If you do the best you can. that will suffice and I will rest my glory amongst you." This teaches us that each one of us has the capability to make this world a dwelling place for G-d's presence.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Shevat 30, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 21, 2023
Today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) are Rosh Chodesh (of the new Hebrew month) Adar. When there are two days Rosh Chodesh, the first day is actually considered the last day of the previous month. The second day Rosh Chodesh is the first day of the new month. When there is only one day Rosh Chodesh that day is the first day of the new month.
Adar is a very special and joyous month.Our sages tell us that when the month of Adar enters, we must increase in simcha-happiness, because the great miracle of Purim happened in the month of Adar. Although the miracle happened on the 14th and 15th of the month, it affects the entire month and every day of the month is a joyous one.
This Shabbat we read Parshat Terumah, which speaks about the contributions which the Jewish people were told to give for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
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 to give you shall take my offering.
The Torah enumerates the various articles which the Jewish people were to donate toward the construction of the Mishkan. G-d tells Moshe the purpose for constructing the Mishkan: “And they shall make Me a sanctuary so that I shall dwell among them."
The sages note that it does not say, "I shall dwell in it," i.e. in the Mishkan. Rather, "I shall dwell among them," for through the Mishkan and Holy Temple, G-d rests, and dwells within every Jew.
A heathen once asked the Talmudic sage Rabbi Gamliel, "Where does your G-d dwell?" Rabbi Gamliel replied, "I do not know."
The man asked, "You pray to your G-d every day and you do not know where He dwells?"
Rabbi Gamliel answered, "You asked me about something which is thirty-five hundred years away from me (referring to the number of years since creation). I will ask you about your soul, which abides within you day and night. Tell me where exactly it dwells within you?" "I have to admit that I do not know!" answered the man.
"You do not know where your soul is, how do you expect me to tell you where G-d resides?" Rabbi Gamliel concluded.
The man continued, "We, idol worshipers, are better off, for we worship to the works of our own hands (idols) thus, we can always see them. But you cannot see your G-d!"
Rabbi Gamliel said, "Just the opposite is true. You see the idols, but they cannot see you. Our G-d, blessed be He, although we cannot see Him, He sees us and sees everything we do.”
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH
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