B"H

Wednesday, Menachem Av 24, 5784 / August 28, 2024

Among the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Re'ay, is the mitzvah of Tzedakah - giving charity. The Torah requires that at least one tenth of one's income should be given to charity.

Q.   The purpose of giving to charity is to help the needy.  Is it also beneficial to the one who gives the charity?

A.   All of G-d's commandments (mitzvot) benefit the person who observes them.  The mitzvah of Tzedakah is no exception.  Although, by giving to charity it may seem that the donor has now less than before, in the long run however, they gain much more than they gave.  On the other hand, by withholding Tzedakah, even if it may seem that they have more at present, but in truth, the person loses in the long run

The Talmud tells us that just like salt preserves meat, so too, "money needs salt!"  The Tzedakah which one gives is like salt, which preserves one's wealth.  In addition to G-d’s blessing to be successful and make money in business, one must also have G-d’s blessing to preserve it.  This is the quality of Tzedakah – charity. 

The two following stories of the great Talmudic Sage Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair, are found in the Jerusalem Talmud:

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair once came to a city where the people complained, "We have a well that supplied us with enough water for all our needs.  However, lately, it doesn't give as much water as it used to, and we are in dire need of water."

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said to them, "Perhaps, you are being punished measure for measure because you are not giving proper tithes from your produce!"  The people realized that they were indeed lax in the giving of tithes and took the sage's words to heart.  They were now careful with their charity and the well again gave water in abundance as before.

Another Talmudic story: Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair came to a city and the people of the city complained that they had a plague of mice who were devouring all of their produce.

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair, with his G-dly powers, decreed that the mice come before him.  They came in droves and screeched loudly.  Rabbi Pinchas asked the people whether they understand what the mice were saying.  The people replied, "No."

Rabbi Pinchas said to them, "They are saying that you are not tithing the produce as prescribed by the Torah and thus they have the right to eat it!"

The people of the city realized their mistake and promised to better their ways.  "Rabbi, guarantee us that if we give proper tithes the mice will leave us alone."  Rabbi Pinchas promised them and as soon as the townspeople began giving proper tithes, the problem with the mice was resolved!

"Blood" in Hebrew is "damim" and money is "damim."  What is the connection?  Our sages draw the following analogy: Just like when one gives blood it is automatically replenished by the body, so too, with charity, G-d replenishes the money which was given and many times more.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW

Torah Fax will not be published regularly during the month of August

B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 22, 5784 / August 26, 2024

In Parshat Aikev, we read this past Shabbat, Moshe reminds the Jewish people over and over how important it is for them to observe all the commandments.

Moshe places special emphasis on those mitzvot which one may consider as “minor” and not important (“Would G-d really care if I did them or not”), Moshe uses the expression, “mitzvot which people throw under their heel and step over them,” that these mitzvot are also important.

The name of the Parsha, Aikev, means “heel.” It emphasizes the importance of the heel mitzvot that they too are not, “heel mitzvot” but “holy” mitzvot, as they too came from G-d.

Our sages, in Pirkei Avot, tell us, "A person must be equally careful with a light mitzvah just as with a strict mitzvah, for we do not know the reward for mitzvot.” Human understanding of the reasons for the mitzvot is very limited. It may be that the seemingly “light” mitzvot in our mind may in fact be very important from G-d’s perspective. Thus, we have to be careful with the observance of all the mitzvot.

In the Parsha, Moshe explains that even the hardships and tests that G-d put them through their forty years in the desert, were for their benefit: "And you shall consider in your heart that just as a man reproaches his son, so G-d chastises you. And you shall keep the commandments of G-d to walk in His ways and to fear him."

Q.  What is the meaning of, "Just as a man reproaches his son so G-d chastises you"?

A.  A father who wishes to teach his child to walk, will begin by walking together with the child and hold his hand. Then he will slowly move away from the child, leaving the child on his own. The child will then take a step toward his father and the father will retreat a bit further so that the child will take a few more steps on his own. The father will repeat this process in order to get the child to walk greater and greater distances.

To the child it may seem that the father is moving away and ignoring him, yet the father does this out of love and care for he knows that the child's growth and development depends on this.

The same is with the righteous. At times it may seem that G-d is ignoring them, yet, in truth, it is like the father moving away from his child. It is a learning processfor the benefit of the righteous.

This is what the Torah means with, "Just as a man reproaches his son so G-d chastises you."  A person will not reprimand another person’s child. A father chastises his child out of his love and caring for his child to set him on the right path and for his growth.  So too, the tests which G-d gives us should be taken as proof that He cares for us and considers us His children and His responsibility.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW

Torah Fax will not be published regularly during the month of August

B"H

Friday, Menachem Av 19, 5784 / August 23, 2024

This week’s Parsha, Eikev, as the entire Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), the last book of the Torah, records Moshe's words of guidance to the people of Israel before his passing. 

Moshe reminds the Jewish people, as they are about to enter the Promised Land, that if they will keep G-d’s commandments, G-d will fulfill His promises to them; "And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will bless the fruit of your body [children] and the fruit of your land... And you shall know in your heart that just as a man reproaches his son, so your G-d chastised you.”

Moshe compares G-d’s dealing with the Jewish people to a father dealing with his son.  When a father reprimands his child, it is not to cause him pain and suffering.  When the child strays, the father will punish him in order to direct him on the right path.  So too, the trials that the Jewish people endured during their journeys in the desert were to lead them in the right path.

“As a man reproaches his son, so the L-rd your G-d chastised you.”  Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev was once traveling and stayed overnight in an inn.  A number of Jewish merchants traveling to the fair to buy and sell their goods were also in the inn.

In the morning, they rose very early to pray and continue to their destination.  Being in a hurry, the merchants prayed very fast, mumbling their words hurriedly.  Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was bothered by their rushing through the prayers.

When they finished, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak went over to one of the merchants and said, “ma, ba, na, ta...”  The man looked at Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, puzzled.  “I cannot understand a word you’re saying.”

Again, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak repeated the sentence, even faster than before.  The merchant shrugged his shoulders, “How can I understand a word you’re saying when you speak so fast?”

“Isn’t this exactly the way you just recited your prayers?” asked Rabbi Levi Yitzchak.  “How do you expect G-d to understand your prayers when you spoke to Him exactly as I have spoken to you?”

The merchant replied: “An infant chatters and blabbers and no one understands what the child is saying.  Yet, the child’s parents know exactly what the child wants.  We are G-d’s children. He understands exactly what we want, what we need and what we are praying for; although no one else may understand what we are saying!” Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was very impressed with the reply and would repeat this story time and again!

Indeed G-d listens and understands our prayers. May they ALL be answered NOW.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:29 / Shabbat ends: 8:32

UNITED WE STAND AND PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY TO BE RELEASED NOW.