Wednesday, Shevat 26, 5777 / February 22, 2017
Dear friend, I am writing to you from Israel. If you send me the names (Hebrew names if possible) of your loved ones, it will be my pleasure to pray for them at the Holy places I visit in Israel.
In this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, the Torah commands us about the mitzvah of giving charity, helping the needy and being generous to the ones who are not as fortunate as we are.
The Torah states, "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."
Q. "When you will lend money to My people, to the poor with you..." What is the meaning of the two seemingly extra words, "with you"?
A. Our sages explain that the Torah tells us that the money one lends or gives to the poor is in fact the poor person’s money which is "with you."
In other words: G-d says, "Be kind and charitable to the poor, for when I bless you with your monetary needs and your livelihood, together with it I also include money intended for the poor."
Why does G-d give it to them through us? It is so that we will merit reward for this mitzvah. Although it is not our money which we give away, for it was meant for the poor in the first place, yet, G-d rewards us for being His messenger to provide for the poor. Unfortunately, too many people don’t see it this way and think that giving charity is entirely voluntary.
The Hebrew word for charity is Tzedakah, which does not mean charity, but righteousness.
Giving to the needy or supporting worthwhile institutions is not an act of charity (a gift etc.), but a performance of righteousness, for that money was originally intended not for us but for the needy.
In Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers) our sages teach us, "At the time of a person's passing from this world, they are not accompanied by their silver and gold... only by their good deeds."
In this context the words,“When you will lend money to My people, to the poor with you,” means that the mitzvah of helping the poor is "with you." For this mitzvah and good deed will forever be "with you," for it accompanies the person even in the World-to-Come.
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." May G-d grant us all good health and whatever we need.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Shevat 24, 5777 / February 20, 2017
This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim,is the first Parsha after the Giving of the Torah. In this Parsha we find 53 of the 613 mitzvot.
The 613 mitzvot of the Torah are generally divided in two categories: 248 positive mitzvot - commandments which we are commanded to perform; and 365 prohibition mitzvot. They all 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. They affect our relationship between one person and another. They fall within the realm of logic and reason.
The name of the Parasha, 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 the mitzvot between one person and another, immediately after Parshat Yitro where we read about the Giving of the Torah? Wouldn’t it make more sense that immediately after the Giving of the Torah, G-d would tell us about our responsibilities toward Him?
A. As mentioned last week, we find the same thing in the Ten Commandments, where there is great emphasis on the mitzvoth between man and man. Our performance of these mitzvot is a good barometer of our relationship toward G-d. One cannot separate the two.
For this reason, Parshat Mishpatim comes right after the Giving of the Torah, to tell 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, as Jews, have to be tight with each other…”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Friday, Shevat 21, 5777 / February 17, 2017
This week’s Parsha, Yitro, is the Parsha of the Giving of the Torah.
Jews acquired their physicalfreedom when they left Egypt and crossed the sea. However, their spiritual freedom they acquired only when they received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Torah gives us purpose and direction in life and without it one is not considered free.
The Giving of the Torah took place 3329years ago. However, the Torah commands us that we must not view the Torah and mitzvot as something ancient, of which one becomes tired, but as if G-d gives it to us each day anew.
The Torah was given at Mount Sinai, which is a small mountainin the Sinai desert. The day on which G-d gave us the Torah was Shabbat.
Q.Why didn’t G-d wait to give the Torah in the Land of Israel? Why in a desert?
A.Israel was divided among the twelve Tribes. Had G-d given the Torah in Israel it would have to be on the land of one of the tribes and all others would not feel that they too have an equal share in the Torah. Giving it in the desert teaches us that the Torah is everyone’s equally.
Q.Why did G-d give the Torah on a small mountain? It would be more befitting to give the Torah from a high and impressive mountain.
A.G-d specially chose a small mountain to teach us that the Torah is within everyone’s grasp. It also teaches us that in order to properly receive the Torah one has to be humble.
The Torah was given on Shabbat to teach us that, although we have to rest on Shabbat, we must never rest from studying Torah. One must study Torah every day of the week.
Q.Why do we read from the Torah on Monday and Thursday, in addition to reading it on Shabbat?
A. Our sages instituted this so that three days should not pass without Torah. The reason these two days were chosen is because Monday and Thursday used to be market days, when people from the vllages and farms would come to the city to buy and sell. Many of the villages didn’t have a minyan or one who can read from the Torah. Being that on these two days they would come to the big city, these days were the most practical ones in which Jews, living in small communities, could attend synagogue while in the city and hear the Torah reading.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:07 / Shabbat ends: 6:11
In loving memory of Ronald Dalfen – Aahron ben Dov Zvi– Yartzeit is today.
May his Neshama-soul rest in peace in Gan Eden. May his memory be a blessing to his family.
From his family, children & grandchildren
Thursday, Shevat 20, 5777 / February 16, 2017
The story of the Giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments is found twice in the Torah. The first time is in this week’s Parsha, Yitro, and the second time in the fifth Book of the Torah – in Deuteronomy.
The Tablets with the Ten Commandments inscribed on them were indeed given twice to the Jewish people. The first Tablets were broken when Moshe, upon coming down Mount Sinai, saw the people worshiping the Golden Calf they made.
The second Tablets G-d gave Moshe after he went up Mount Sinai again to pray for his people. When G-d forgave the people for their sin of the Golden Calf, He gave Moshe the second set of Tablets.
Q.How many days was Moshe on Mount Sinai before coming down with the Tablets?
A.Moshe was on Mountain Sinai forty days before receiving the first Tablets. Then he went up for another eighty days (forty plus forty days) after which he received the second Tablets.
Q.Which Jewish holiday is associated with the giving of the first Tablets and which with the second Tablets?
A.The holiday of Shavuot is associated with the first Tablets. On that day G-d descended on Mount Sinai and announced the Ten Commandments. They were then inscribed by G-d on the two Tablets and carried down by Moshe forty days later.
After breaking the Tablets and praying for forgiveness for his people, G-d gave Moshe the second Tablets. They were given to Moshe and brought down Mount Sinai on Yom Kippur.
Thus, Shavuot celebrates the first Tablets and Yom Kippur the second Tablets.
Q.Where were the first and second Tablets stored?
A. Both sets of Tablets were stored in the Holy Ark in the Holy Temple.
Q.Was there any difference between the first and second Tablets?
A.The first Tablets were completely made by G-d. The Tablets themselves and the inscription were all “G-d made.” The second Tablets were man made. Moshe brought the Tablets up the mountain and G-d inscribed the Ten Commandments in them.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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