B"H

Friday, Iyar 7, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 22nd Sefirah / April 28, 2023

This Shabbat we read two Parshiot, Acharei& Kedoshim. These two Parshiot have a total of 79, of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah.

Our sages instruct us that we should observe the mitzvot not for the sake of their reward, only out of love for G-d. The same applies to the negative mitzvot which we are commanded to refrain from doing. We should obey G-d’s commandment not out of fear of their punishment, but as a result of our love for G-d.  Nevertheless, we find in these two Parshiot that G-d promises reward for observing the mitzvot and punishment for disregarding them. Reward should not be the primary factor for doing the mitzvoth, but G-d rewards every mitzvah and good deed we perform. 

In fact, believing that there is reward and punishment is one of the thirteen principles of our faith.  However, the less one thinks about the reward when performing a mitzvah, the better the mitzvah is.

In the beginning of the third chapter of Pirkei Avot, which we will recite on Shabbat, the sage Akaviya ben Mahalalel gives us the following advice to help us refrain from committing sin and assist us to observe the mitzvot; “Know from where you come; to where you are going and before whom you are destined to give an accounting…before the Holy One, blessed be He.”

Knowing that everyone is destined to give an accounting for everyaction we perform during our life-time, should cause us to refrain from sin and to accomplish, in this world, as many mitzvot as possible.

Q.  Why are angels not rewarded for performing G-d’s missions, yet, we get reward for doing mitzvot?

A. The Midrash gives the following parable; A king had a wine cellar full of barrels of rare and expensive wines.  The king was afraid that robbers might attempt to steal his precious wine, he therefore hired special guards to guard the wine.  Amongst the guards were also notorious alcoholics, who were also entrusted to safeguard the wine.

At the end of the month, the king ordered an inspection of the cellar and found that the barrels were intact and full of wine. He commanded that the guards be paid.  However, he gave special instructions that the guards who were alcoholics should get double the salary. 

“That is not fair,” protested the other guards. “Why should they get paid more, we all worked the same?”

The king replied, “No. You didn’t work the same.  Can you imagine the self-restraint not to touch the wine these guards had to exercise every minute of the day.  I paid them more for theirextra effort.”

The same is with reward for mitzvot.  Angels have no temptations and performing their mission comes naturally to them.  But we were created with temptations which we have to overcome.  It is for this effortthat G-d gives us reward and the greater the effort, the greater the reward.  Thus, when we perform a mitzvah and good deed, we stand spiritually much higher than an angel.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:39 / Shabbat ends: 8:48

B"H

Tuesday, Iyar 11, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 26th Sefirah / May 2, 2023

This week’s Parsha, Emor, is the eighth Parsha in the book of Vayikra (Leviticus).

Of the many mitzvot in this Parsha the Torah commands us about the observance of the holidays, "G-d spoke to Moshe, saying: speak to the children of Israel and say to them: The festivals of G-d you shall proclaim to be holy convocations. The following are My festivals…”

Then the Torah goes on to describe the holiday of Passover; the Omer sacrifice; the mitzvah of counting the Omer for a period of seven weeks; the holiday of Shavuot and the sacrifice of the Two Breads on Shavuot; Rosh Hashanah; the sounding of the Shofar; fasting on Yom Kippur - the day of atonement; Sukkot and its mitzvot and the mitzvah of Lulav and Etrog. 

In the middle of describing the holidays and the mitzvot associated with them and the sacrifices which shall be brought in the Holy Temple for each of the holidays, the Torah commands us about the mitzvah of Tzedakah - helping the poor.

The Parsha says, "And when you reap the harvest of your land you shall not completely reap the corner of your field and the gleaning of your harvest you shall not gather; for the poor and for the stranger (the convert) you shall leave them: I am the L-rd your G-d".  

Q.  Why did the Torah tell us about the mitzvah of charity ("for the poor and for the stranger you shall leave them") while speaking about the holidays and their particular sacrifices?

A.  According to our sages it is to teach us the importance of charity. Our sages say, “G-d credits whoever gives charity, as if they built the Beth HaMikdash (Holy Temple) and presented offerings therein."  In other words, the Torah tells us that a gift to the poor is really a gift to G-d! This is especially important today when we don’t have the Temple and cannot offer sacrifices. Giving to charity is our only way of offering gifts to G-d.

Rabbi Akiva was once traveling on a ship when he noticed in the distance another ship which was sinking.  Rabbi Akiva knew that there was a scholar on the sinking ship who would no doubt drown.  But when Rabbi Akiva came to shore and visited the synagogue, he saw the man engaged in study!

"How were you saved from the sinking ship?" Rabbi Akiva asked him.

"Your prayers must have helped me for I was thrown from wave to wave until I found myself on shore."

"What good deed did you do to merit such a miracle?" asked Rabbi Akiva.

"As I boarded the ship, a poor man came and asked for food.  I gave him a loaf of bread.  The poor man said to me, 'Just like you saved my life, may G-d save your life.'"

Upon hearing this Rabbi Akiva reminded everyone the words of King Solomon, "Cast your bread upon the water and in time you will find it!" Charity is our gift to G-d, which in turn brings G-d’s gifts to us.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Wednesday, Iyar 12, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 32nd Sefirah / May 3, 2023

In Pirkei Avot our sages state about the mitzvah of Tzedakah (charity); "There are four types among those who give charity:

1) One who wishes to give but doesn't want others to give - he begrudges others.  2) He who encourages others to give but doesn't give himself - he begrudges himself. 3) He who gives and wants others to give too, is a generous person. 4) One who doesn't give and doesn't want others to give, is a wicked person." 

The proper way to perform the mitzvah of Tzedakah is to give and see that others give too.

An important condition in the mitzvah of Tzedakah is to make sure that the person receiving the help should not feel embarrassed and inferior.  Many people give Tzedakah anonymously.  That way, the poor would not know the source of the money and wouldn't be embarrassed when they meet the donor.

The Talmud tells the following story.  Mar Ukva's neighbor was a poor person.  Each day, Mar Ukva threw the sum of four zuzim through a hole in his neighbor’s door so that he would not know his identity.

One day, Mar Ukva and his wife stopped by the neighbor's house to drop in the four zuzim.  But as they did, the poor man opened the door.  Afraid that he would be embarrassed seeing his benefactor, Mar Ukva and his wife ran and hid in a large oven used for baking bread.  The coals in the oven were still hot and Mar Ukva burnt his feet.  However, his wife's feet were not affected at all.  She suggested that he place his feet on hers to avoid further pain.

"We both give charity, so why is it that my feet burnt while yours didn't?" asked Mar Ukva.

His wife replied: "The reason is that you perform the mitzvah of charity by giving money to the poor.  But they cannot benefit from this immediately because they must buy food.  But I am in the house and when a poor person comes for help, I give them food which they eat right away and benefit immediately!"

Mar Ukva's charity was legendary.  Every Erev Yom Kippur, he would send a poor person a certain amount of money.  Once, he sent the money with his son, but the boy returned with it.  He told his father, "The person doesn't need your money!  When I came to his house, I saw him eating a festive meal and drinking good wine!"

"I didn't realize what this man's needs were," Mar Ukva said to his son.  "Obviously he needs more than what I gave him." Mar Ukva immediately doubled the amount and told his son to bring it to the person!

The Talmud tells that before Mar Ukva passed away he asked that an accounting of all the money he distributed for charity be brought before him.  It amounted to a very large sum. Yet, Mar Ukva wasn't satisfied.  "I'm taking too little with me for such a long journey!" he stated.  He then took half of his possessions and distributed them to charity.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY