B"H
Tuesday, Sivan 15, 5782 / June 14, 2022
Amongst the many wonderful lessons in Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) we find the following instructions: Yehoshua ben Prachya says, “You should judge every person favorably.” Hillel the Elder says, “Do not judge your fellow until you find yourself in his place.”
Most people find it easier to judge others than themselves. Judging others favorably is not only a good character trait and beneficial to the person being judged, but also rewarding to the one who is judging. The Talmud tells us, “One who judges his fellowman favorably, he too, will be judged favorably.”
The Talmud tells the following story: There was a man who hired himself out to a wealthy man to work for three years. At the end of the three years, he came to his boss and said, “Give me my wages so that I can go back and feed my wife and children.”
His owner said: “I have no money!” “Then give me produce of your field, instead,” said the worker. “I have no produce to give,” he replied. “Then give me a piece of your land, or some cattle.” “I don’t have that either,” he replied. “In that case, give me pillows and bedding for the value of my work,” begged the worker. “I don’t have any,” replied the owner. At this point the worker took his personal belongings and went home in despair.
A while later, the landowner took the wages he owed the man and in addition loaded up three donkeys with food, drinks and delicacies and came to his former employee’s home. He gave him his wages in full, plus all the extras he brought with him.
He then asked his employee, “You saw that I was a wealthy man. When you asked for your wages and I told you I didn’t have any money, what did you think?”
“I thought that you must have come upon a very good deal and used up all your money.”
“And when you asked me for cattle or land instead and I said I didn’t have any, what did you think of me?”
“I thought your cattle and land were rented out to others.”
“When I told you I have no produce, what did you suspect me of?”
“I thought, perhaps you didn’t give the tithes from the produce yet, so you couldn’t give me any of it.”
“When I said I had no pillows or bedding, what did you think of me then?”
“I thought, maybe you made a pledge to give them to charity.”
The rich man exclaimed, “YES! It was exactly so, therefore I couldn’t pay you at that time. I pray that just as you judged me favorably, so too, may the ultimate judge (G-d), judge you always only positively!”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Wednesday, Adar 3, 5777 / March 1, 2017
This Shabbat we read Parshat Terumah,which is about the contributions which G-d commanded the Jewish people to give toward the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
The Mishkan was the sanctuary which traveled with them throughout their forty years in the desert. It was dismantled when they had to travel and re-constructed wherever they camped.
The Parsha begins with G-d commanding Moshe, “Speak to the Children of Israel and they shall take for me Terumah.” G-d tells Moshe which items to take so that, “They should make a Sanctuary for Me and I will dwell among them.”
Q. A contribution in Hebrew is, “Nedavah.” The word “Terumah” is “to lift up.” Why, when telling them to contribute, the Torah uses the word “Terumah” (“to lift”), instead of Nedavah?
A. Rabbi Schneur Zalmen, first Rabbi of Chabad said, “G-d gives us physical matter, for the purpose that we should transform and elevate the physical into spiritual.”
The Torah teaches us an important lesson here about giving Tzedakah (charity). When one gives his/her hard earned money for Tzedakah, they elevateit from physical into a much higherrealm - into spiritual. This is why G-d called the contributions for building the Tabernacle, Terumah, which means to lift up, because that’s exactly what takes place when one gives Tzedakah (charity).
Q. Why does the Torah say, “They shall taketo Me.” It should have said, “They shall giveto Me.”
A. Here, too, the Torah teaches us a very important lesson on how one should view contributing to charity. Instead of thinking that Tzedakah is giving, one should think of it as “taking.”
Our sages say, “More than the rich person, who gives the charity, does for the poor person, the poor person, who gets the donation, does for the wealthy person.”
In other words, the one who gives the charity gains in return much more than what he gave. It’s a great business deal. Every dollar given to charity is worth much more in the account of the one who gave it away!
Giving is really getting!
Thus, the one giving charity is in fact taking; for they receive much more in return for the Tzedakah they gave. It is the giver who is the real taker!This is why the Torah interchanges takingfor giving!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Adar 1, 5777 / February 27, 2017
Today, Monday, is Rosh Chodesh – the first day of the New Hebrew month Adar.
Adar is considered the last month of the year and the next month, Nissan, is the first month. In a leap year there are two months of Adar – Adar 1 & Adar 2. This year, not being a leap year, there is only one month of Adar.
In the Hebrew calendar the months are independent of the years. Rosh Hashana, which is the beginning of the New Year, is actually in the seventh month of the year, while the first month of the year is seven months after Rosh Hashana.
Our sages tell us that when the month of Adar enters, we must increase in Simcha-happiness.
The reason for this is that one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history, the miracle of Purim, when the entire Jewish nation was saved from annihilation, occurred in the month of Adar.
On the seventh day of Adar, Moshe, the greatest leader of the Jewish people was born. He also passed away on the same day, 120 years later.
Simcha-Happinessis an important part of our service of G-d. King David in Psalm 100 says, "Serve G-d with happiness, come before Him with joyous song." Every mitzvah performed with happiness, shows our appreciation to G-d for the opportunity to observe it. Our sages tell us that happiness comes from holiness, whereas sadness and dejection comes from the "other side."
Rabbi Schneur Zalmen of Liadi explains this concept with a parable of two people engaged in battle. If one of the fighters feels down and dejected while the other is happy and in good spirits, the happy one will be faster and have more energy to win the battle--even if his opponent is stronger. Thus, feelings of dejection and sadness take away one's will power and strength and will cause him to fail.
Throughout life, we often find ourselves in a constant battle. Therefore, we must think positive and be happy, thus deriving strength to win the battles.
"Think good and it will be good!" a great Rebbe told his Chassid, who had a child who was so ill that the doctors had given up all hope. The Chassid listened to the Rebbe's directive and only thought positive. Eventually, his son became well. "Throughout my life," the Chassid told his friends, "whenever there was a problem, whether in health or business, I always remembered the Rebbe's command, "Think good and it will be good". I didn't let the negative thoughts overcome me. I would think positive, and just like the Rebbe predicted, things would turn out positive."
Take our sages’ advice. Increase in happiness, think positive and the results will be positive!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & HAPPY CHODESH/MONTH
Thursday, Shevat 27, 5777 / February 23, 2017
One of the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, is, “Distance yourself from false matter.” The Torah guides us to be very careful not to lie.
Our sages in Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) say, “The world stands on three things (pillars); on justice, on truth and peace.”
Q.Why did the sages have to specify that the world stands on three things? Everyone can figure out that, justice, truth and peace are three things.
A.When a table has four legs it may not matter so much if one of the legs is missing. The table can still stand on three legs. But when a table has only three legs, then each leg is very important. Even if one of the three legs is missing, the table will not hold up on just two legs.
Our sages specify that the world stands on three things, to emphasize the importance of each of these three. Even if only one is missing it erodes the stability of the universe.
In light of the “fake news” phenomenon these days, this mitzvah takes on much importance.
There are exceptions to this rule, when it is for the sake of bringing peace between husband and wife or between friends. But, even in those cases, it should be used only as a last resort.
The Talmud tells about the great Talmudic sage, Rav, that when he wanted to eat a certain food, his wife would make him something different. She didn’t respect his wishes. But, Rav didn’t make anything of it and ate whatever she prepared, making sure to keep the peace at home.
When his son, Chiya, became older, he felt bad for his father. When his father wanted a certain dish, Chiya wouldn’t tell his mother the truth, so that his mother would cook what his father actually wanted.
The plan worked and every time Rav would get exactly what he asked for. He didn’t know that it was only due to the fact that his son would tell his mother that he wanted something else..
After a while, Rav said to his son, “Looks like your mother has changed her ways.. She finally serves what I want.” At that point Rav’s son decided to tell his father the truth.
Rav was not pleased. He told his son, “Although you meant well and you did this for the sake of peace, you should not do this anymore as you are getting used to lying and the Torah commands, “To distance yourself from speaking false!”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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