B"H

Monday Sivan 25, 5777 / June 19, 2017

This Shabbat we will recite the fourth chapter of Pirkei Avot. In this chapter Ben Zoma teaches us the following important lesson, “Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot."

"Rich" in Hebrew is "Ashir." The four letters of the Hebrew word Ashir (Ayen, Shin, Yud, Reish) can serve as an acronym for the words, Ainayim (eyes), Shinayim (teeth), Yadayim (hands), Raglayim (feet). In this context, one is rich when his/her body is in working order. This should make a person feel rich even if one lacks in monetary wealth and possessions. There is a saying in Yiddish, "altz in aynem is nito ba keinem" - "All in one, there’s by no one..” Too often we take the most important things for granted… Wealth should be measured by taking everything into account.

A simple Jewish farmer, who lived in a village, hired a rabbi to teach his child. The rabbi/teacher spent much of his free time in the forest outside the village.  The farmer always wanted to know what the learned man was doing in the forest, but he refused to tell. 

One day the farmer insisted that he tell what he was doing in the forest or he would lose his job. Having no choice, he told the farmer, "I spend my time in the forest listening to what the birds are saying." The farmer was impressed. He asked the teacher to teach him also to understand what the birds were saying. The teacher initially refused, telling him that it was not to his benefit to know this.  But, knowing that his job was at stake, he eventually relented and taught him.

One day, as the farmer was traveling through the forest, he heard one bird telling another bird, "Tonight thieves will steal this farmer's cow." Upon hearing this he immediately returned home and was able to save his cow. A week later, he again overheard a bird saying, "This farmer will have a financial loss due to fire." As a result, he again was able to save his fortune.

Some time later, as he was again traveling through the forest, he heard one bird telling the other that soon this farmer will die. He immediately went back home and approached the teacher, whom he knew as a holy man and told him what he heard. "Twice, I understood what the birds were saying and saved my possessions, but what can I do now?"

The teacher replied, "I warned you that it was not good to know everything! Originally, it was decreed in heaven that you shall die, but then it was decided to spare your life in exchange for the loss of your possessions. Now that you have saved your possessions, the original decree was reinstated!"

The lesson of the farmer can apply to our Mishna. "Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot" - Although one may be lacking in financial areas, perhaps it is precisely this lack that spared them from something far worse!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday Sivan 28, 5777 / June 22, 2017

The Torah portion this week is Korach. One of only a few Torah portions named after a person. The Parsha begins with the story of Korach’s rebellion against Moshe and Aaron. 

Korach was a member of the tribe of Levi and a cousin of Moshe and Aaron. He was jealous of Moshe who was the leader of the Jewish people and Aaron being the High Priest. When his younger cousin Elitzafan was appointed to a leadership position, Korach gathered 250 people and together they rebelled against Moshe and Aaron.

Korach claimed, "The entire congregation is holy. Why do you exalt yourselves above the congregation?" 

Korach went around mocking Moshe. He wanted to prove that Moshe was misleading the people. One of the questions Korach asked Moshe was, “What is the law when a house is full of Torah scrolls, does the house still need a mezuzah on the door?

Moshe replied that it needs a mezuzah.

Korach then mocked Moshe, “How is it possible that the entire Torah, which contains two hundred and seventy five chapters, including the part which is written in the mezuzah, cannot accomplish what the mezuzah, which is but one small part of the Torah, can?!  It makes no sense and these laws could not be from G-d.

With this Korach wanted to prove that Moshe was not speaking in G-d’s name. Moshe warned Korach that his uprising was not against him and Aaron but against G-d and that he and his followers will be punished by G-d. But Korach didn't repent.

The Torah tells us, "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up and their households and all their possessions." Korach and the leaders of the revolt disappeared into the ground. The others who were with Korach were burnt in a fire sent from G-d.

Q.Korach’s argument seems to be a very logical one. Why should a house full of Torah scrolls need a mezuzah on the door?

A.There is a wonderful lesson in this. This teaches us that it is not enough for one to conduct themselves according to the laws and ways of the Torah and be a good Jew within their home. One has to be a good Jew also in public, outside the home. A Jew must be proud of being Jewish and exhibit it also on the outside. Affixing a mezuzah on the doorpost outside of the home accomplishes that everyone will recognize that this is a Jewish home and a dwelling place for G-d.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday Tammuz 5, 5777 / June 29, 2017

This week’s Parsha, Chukat, begins with the mitzvah of "Parah Adumah" - "Red Heifer". The ashes of a red heifer mixed with water were used to purify those who came into contact with a dead body so they could enter into the Holy Temple.

Death symbolizes the very opposite of holiness and G-dliness, which is called "life". One who came in contact with a dead person became spiritually contaminated and had to go through the process of "purification."  Through the Parah Adumah, a person was transformed from a state of spiritual impurity to a state of spiritual purity.

Since the time of Moshe, nine red heifers have been used for spiritual cleansing.  Moshiach will use the tenth "Parah Adumah" to purify the people of Israel.

The Torah calls this mitzvah "Chukat HaTorah."  It is one of the many mitzvot in the Torah that have no logical or apparent reason. This mitzvah is considered illogical due to the paradox of this commandment; while the spiritually unclean person becomes clean through the process of Parsha Adumah, the Kohen (Priest) who handles the ashes becomes unclean.

The irrationality of this mitzvah teaches us that to make the leap from impurity to spirituality, one has to commit to G-d’s mitzvot beyond the limitations of one's logic.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that Parah Adumah teaches us the extent a Jew must go to help another one spiritually. One must make personal sacrifices to help a fellow Jew come closer to G-d.

Our sages say that even when it seems that we are making a sacrifice to benefit someone else, in the long run, it is we who benefit from it. The following story illustrates how helping others helps us.

Two peddlers were walking from village to village to sell their wares.  One cold winter day it began snowing heavily and walking became treacherous. After many hours, one of them was so overcome by the cold and exhaustion, that he fell to the ground.

The partner, also shivering from cold, realized that his friend would freeze to death if left alone. He immediately went to work on his friend, massaging him, moving his hands, feet and limbs, so they wouldn't freeze.  He worked for many hours, even though he too was freezing from the cold.  Finally, a coach drove by, picked them up and brought them to the city where they were attended by a doctor.

The one who massaged his friend boasted that he saved his friend's life.  But the doctor said to him, "True you saved his life, but he saved your life too... for had you not massaged him and used your hands and feet to help him, you too would have suffered from frostbite!" Helping others benefits us!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY