Thursday, Shevat 29, 5784 / February 8, 2024
This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, includes mitzvot which deal between man and G-d and mitzvot between one individual and the other.
For example, in this Parsha we are commanded about the laws of damages; respecting parents; litigation; dealings with the poor, the widow and the orphan ("You must not mistreat any widow or orphan"), giving charity and lending money to those in need.
We find these two categories also in the Ten Commandments. The first four commandments; belief in G-d, prohibition to worship idols, not to swear falsely and in vain, observing Shabbat, are between us and G-d. The other mitzvot; honoring parents, not to commit murder, etc., are between people.
In truth, even the mitzvot between individuals has an effect on our relationship with G-d, while the mitzvot between us and G-d also affects others. Every good deed we perform enhances and strengthens our relationship with G-d and also benefits all of humanity.
One of the mitzvot in this Parsha is to help someone who is in financial need. The Torah commands, "If/When you lend money to My people, to the poor person [who is] with you, do not act toward him as a demanding creditor. Do not place the burden of interest upon him."
Although the Torah uses an expression which can be translated "If you lend..." Our sages explain that this is one of three places in the Torah where the Hebrew word "Im" doesn't mean if but when. For giving a loan to one who is in need is a mitzvah and a commandment, which we are required to do.
Q.Why does the Torah use an expression which can be translated as "if" when one is required to help another person?
A.Rabbi Shabsi Kohen explains that the word, “if” doesn’t apply to the giving of the loan. The Torah says, "If G-d blessed you with money and means, make sure that you lend and help the poor man." One should know that the true purpose that G-d gave you wealth is that one should help others.
Another way of translating this verse is: If you want to make sure that your wealth is always yours, then use it to help others. For the sum of money which one uses to help the poor is the only possession which is truly theirs!" The only possession which is guaranteed to be ours forever is the money we give to charity and to help others.
Our sages say, "When a person passes away from the world, it is not their silver, nor gold and not the precious stones which will go with them... for only the good deeds they performed during their lifetime accompany them in the World-to-Come." These possessions are everlasting.
MAY WE ALL STAY UNITED IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL. MAY G-D HAVE MERCY UPON THEM AND HAVE THEM RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY NOW.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Shevat 27, 5784 / February 6, 2024
This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, comes after Parshat Yitro in which we read about the Giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. This tells us that the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha were also given to Moshe 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. The first half of the Ten Commandments are mitzvot between us and G-d, while the second half are mitzvot between one person and another.
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 between people, which are crucial for society to function.
The barometer of whether a person is truly religious and pious, is not only in their behavior toward G-d, it is also how they behave toward another fellow human being. This is why the laws in the category of Mishpatim (between one and another) comes right after, and in connection with the Giving of the Torah, which begins with, “I am G-d your G-d.” A truly G-d fearing person behaves properly not only toward G-d, but also toward another human being. After all, we were all created in G-d’s image.
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."
Rabbi Shneur Zalmen, founder of Chabad, would collect funds 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!"
Our sages teach us about tzedakah (charity), “More than what we do for the needy person when giving charity, the needy person does more for us.” We get from giving much more than what we give away.
MAY WE ALL STAY UNITED IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL. MAY G-D HAVE MERCY UPON THEM AND HAVE THEM RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY NOW.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Monday, Shevat 26, 5784 / February 5, 2024
The fourth of the Ten Commandments, which we read this past Shabbat, is the commandment to observe Shabbat.
The Ten Commandments are mentioned twice in the Torah. The first time in Parshat Yitro. The second time they are mentioned in Deuteronomy, at the end of their forty year journey in the desert, where Moshe repeats many of the events which took place during their forty years in the desert.
In Parshat Yitro the commandment of Shabbat is, “Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy.” In Deuteronomy the Torah uses the expression, “Guard the day of Shabbat to keep it holy.”
Q. What is the reason for the two expressions, “Remember” and “Guard”?
A. On Shabbat there are positive mitzvot which we perform, and prohibitions which we must refrain from doing. “Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy” refers to the positive mitzvot we do on Shabbat. “Guard the day of Shabbat” is a commandment to refrain from doing what we are prohibited on Shabbat.
Q. Why do we recite the Kiddush over wine on Shabbat?
A. According to our sages, the forbidden fruit which Adam and Eve ate was a grape. Adam and Eve were created on Friday, and they ate the forbidden fruit that same day. That night Adam and Eve entered into Shabbat, the first Shabbat after creation, stained from their sin. As a correction for their sin, our sages established that we sanctify the Shabbat by reciting the Kiddush over wine.
Q.Why do we cover the two Challot when reciting the Kiddush on Shabbat?
A. The two challot remind us of the manna which came from heaven every day. On Shabbat the manna didn’t come. Instead, a double portion descended from heaven each Friday – one portion for Friday and one for Shabbat. The manna came with a layer of dew underneath and a layer of dew which covered the manna on top. Being that the two challot are a reminder of the manna, we place the challa on a tablecloth and a cover over it, to resemble the manna as it was found in the desert.
Q. We usher in Shabbat with the lighting of candles. There are various customs as to how many candles one lights. A woman who is single lights one candle. The minimum for a married woman is two candles. Some light a candle for each member of the family. What is the reason for the two candles?
A. As mentioned above, there are two expressions concerning the commandment of Shabbat: “Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy,” and, “Guard the day of Shabbat to keep it holy.” The two candles are in honor of the two expressions which G-d used regarding the holy day of Shabbat.
MAY WE ALL STAY UNITED IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL. MAY G-D HAVE MERCY UPON THEM AND HAVE THEM RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY NOW.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Shevat 22, 5784 / February 1, 2024
The highlight of this week's Parsha, Yitro, is G-d's giving the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. This great event took place seven weeks after The Exodus.
Q. Why did G-d wait 50 days after the Exodus to give the Torah?
A. During their enslavement in Egypt, a majority of Jews adopted the ways of the Egyptians. As a result, they had fallen to a very low spiritual level, even to the extent of worshiping idols. In order to receive the Torah, they had to elevate themselves spiritually. As the saying goes, “It was easier to take the people out of Egypt, than take Egypt out of the people.” Only when they achieved that spiritual level did G-d give them the Torah. This process took seven weeks, as each day they were elevated to a higher level.
The Midrash gives another reason with the following parable: A king had a son who was sick for a lengthy time. When the young prince finally felt a bit better, his teacher asked the king to send the boy to school. But the king replied, "My son has not yet fully recovered. For the next few months let him stay home, eat and drink, until he fully recuperates, and after, when he is completely recovered, I will send him to school.
Similarly, G-d said, My children have just come out of Egypt where they were tortured and enslaved for over one hundred years. How can I give them the Torah so soon? Let them enjoy the Manna, the water of the well and the quail. Once they are completely healed, then I will give them the Torah."
Q. There are 620 letters in the Ten Commandments. What is the significance of this number?
A. They correspond to the 613 Biblical Mitzvot plus 7 Rabbinical laws, which total 620.
The Torah scrolls in synagogue have a crown on them. The "crown" on top of the Torah scroll is called "Keter Torah." The word "Keter" (crown) has the numerical value of 620 (20+400+200=620). This also alludes to all the Biblical and Rabbinical mitzvot, which together total 620.
Q. The first letter of the Ten Commandments is "Alef,” which has a numerical value of 1. The last letter of the Ten Commandments is "Chaf," whose numerical value is, 20. Together they total 21. What is the significance of this?
A. If we add up the first letter of each of the Five Books of the Torah, they come to the total of 21 (2+6+6+6+1). This teaches us that the entire Torah – all Five Books of the Torah, were given at Mount Sinai. According to Rabbi Sadiya Gaon, all the mitzvot of the Torah are encoded within the Ten Commandments.
MAY WE ALL STAY UNITED IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL. MAY G-D HAVE MERCY UPON THEM AND HAVE THEM RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY NOW.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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