B"H
Thursday, Shevat 22, 5785 / February 20, 2025
One of the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, is the commandment to, “Love your fellow like yourself.”
Our sages ask, “How is it possible to love someone else like yourself?” It is our natural feeling that we love ourselves, our children and our family more than we love others. So how can G-d demand of us to love another Jew the same as we love ourselves?
Our sages answer: Every Jew is comprised from a body and a soul. The body is physical, and the soul is spiritual. Body wise we are separate entities and different from each other, but soul wise we are all ONE. At the soul level we are responsible for each other, for we are one, and just as we are responsible for ourselves, we are responsible to help another Jew observe Torah and mitzvot and fulfill their G-dly mission in life.
We read this concept in last week’s Parsha, Yitro. At the Giving of the Torah all Jews are addressed in the singular – as ONE person. This is because all our souls come from the same source and thus we are one. When one realizes this, then loving our fellow is loving ourselves. When we do a mitzvah it helps another person and when they do a mitzvah it helps us.
Many of the mitzvot in this week’s Parsha are about being generous to the poor and needy. One must not view whatever G-d blessed them with as completely theirs, but included is a portion to distribute to others who are in need. G-d gives us what we need and at the same time some more so that we can perform the mitzvah of helping others.
On a very cold winter night the Rabbi of the city went to collect funds to buy wood for poor people to heat their homes. He came to the home of a wealthy man, knocked on the door and when the man opened the door, he told him that he came to ask for funds to help poor families heat their homes.
The rich man, who wasn’t dressed for the cold was freezing as he stood by the open door and invited the Rabbi into the house. The rabbi refused and kept on talking to him outside, in the freezing cold. A while later, after the man agreed to give the Rabbi the money he needed, the Rabbi agreed to came into the house. They continued talking over a hot cup of tea.
The wealthy man asked, “Rabbi, Why didn’t you come into my home right away? You could have asked me for the money in my warm home and not have me stand outside in the freezing weather?
The rabbi answered, “That was the idea... I wanted you to experience what the poor people are going through… I thought if you feel how they feel in this freezing cold, you will open your heart and wallet much faster… In addition to helping the needy it is important to feel for them and show them that we feel for them and give wholeheartedly.”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Tuesday, Shevat 20, 5785 / February 18, 2025
This week’s Parsha, Mishpatim,is the first Parsha after the story of the Giving of the Ten Commandments. In this Parsha we find 53 of the 613 mitzvot.
The 613 mitzvot of the Torah are generally divided into two categories: 248 positive mitzvot - commandments which we are commanded to perform; and 365 prohibition mitzvot, which we are commanded not to do. All 613 mitzvot 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. These are mitzvot which G-d gave us a reason for them.
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, but we weren’t given any reason for them.
Mishpatimare mostly laws of civil justice, such as, do not steal, honoring parents, honoring the elders, giving charity, etc. They affect our relationship between one person to another. They fall within the realm of logic and reason. In fact, many secular societies may contain similar laws.
The name of this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, tells us that most of the mitzvot in this Parsha are such which teach us responsibility towards our fellow human being and which we would understand their importance and do them even if we weren’t commanded by G-d at Mount Sinai.
Q.Why is Parshat Mishpatim, which mostly deals with mitzvot between one person and another, come immediately after Parshat Yitro where we read about the Giving of the Torah? It would make more sense that immediately after the Giving of the Torah, G-d would command us the mitzvot toward Him?
A. We find the same thing in the Ten Commandments, where most of the Ten Commandments are between one and another. However, it teaches us that our performance of these mitzvot is a good barometer of our relationship toward G-d. One cannot separate the two. As Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa says in Pirkei Avot, "If the spirit of one's fellow is pleased with you, the spirit of G-d is pleased with you; but if the spirit of one's fellow is not pleased with you the spirit of G-d is not pleased with you."
Parshat Mishpatim comes right after the Giving of the Torah, to teach us the importance of these mitzvot which emphasize proper conduct and love amongst ourselves.
However, our sages teach us that even the mitzvot which have a logical reason behind them, we must observe them because G-d commanded us to do them. This way we bring G-dliness and holiness into them and thus we strengthen our connection to G-d through them. Loving our fellow is loving G-d.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Monday, Shevat 19, 5785 / February 17, 2025
In Parshat Yitro, which we read last Shabbat, the Torah describes the Giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. In this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, the Torah tells us many additional mitzvot which were given to Moshe at Mount Sinai during the forty days he was on the mountain.
One of the many mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Mishpatim, is the mitzvah of Tzedakah, which is usually translated as charity- to help those less fortunate who are in need.
The following is from the Talmudic sages concerning Tzedakah – charity:
Rabbi Asi said, “Charity equals in importance as all other mitzvot combined.”
Rabbi Eliezer said, “Greater is the one who does charity than he who offers all the sacrifices, for it is said, ‘To do charity and justice is more acceptable to G-d than sacrifice.’”
Rabbi Yehuda used to say, “Ten strong things have been created in the world. The rock [mountain] is hard, but iron splits it. Iron is hard, but fire softens it. Fire is powerful, but water quenches it. Water is heavy but the clouds carry it. Clouds are thick, but winds scatter them. The wind is strong, but the body resists it. The body is strong, but fear crushes it. Fear is powerful, but wine banishes it. Wine is strong, but sleep works it off. Death is stronger than all, yet, charity delivers from death, as it is written, “Charity delivers from death!”
The Talmud tells the following: Once two pupils of Rabbi Chanina went into the forest to cut wood. An astrologer saw the two disciples enter the forest and remarked, "I see that these two will not return alive!
As they were about to enter the forest, an old man encountered them and said, "Please give me some food, it is three days since I had anything to eat."
The two disciples had with them one loaf of bread, so they broke it in half and gave half to the old man. After he finished eating, he blessed them and said, "Just as you saved my life today, so may your lives be spared." At the end of the day, the two disciples came out of the forest with their load of wood.
Seeing the two pupils alive and well, the people said to the astrologer, "Didn’t you predict that they wouldn't return alive? You’re a liar!”
The astrologer was puzzled. He called the two disciples over to him and said, "May I examine the bundles which you are carrying?” They agreed. Taking their bundles apart, the astrologer found a poisonous snake, cut in half; half in one bundle and the other half in the other bundle. Turning to them, he asked, "What good deed did you do today that saved your lives?" The two disciples told him about the starving old man and how they saved his life with their half loaf of bread.
"That saved your life," exclaimed the astrologer. "What can I do if the G-d of the Jews can be appeased with half a loaf of bread?!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Friday, Shevat 16, 5785 / February 14, 2025
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 from Egypt.
Q. Why did G-d wait 50 days after the Exodus to give the Torah?
A. During their enslavement in Egypt, a majority of Israelites adopted the ways of the Egyptians. As a result, they had fallen to a very low spiritual level, even to the point of worshipping idols. In order to receive the Torah, they had to elevate themselves spiritually. Only when they achieved that spiritual level did G-d give them the Torah.
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 eat and drink. Only when he is completely recovered will I send him to school. Similarly, G-d said, My children have just come out of Egypt where they were tortured and enslaved for so many 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. What is the significance of the number "Ten" ("Ten" commandments)?
A.Our Talmudic sages tell us that G-d created the world with ten sayings. The TEN Commandments correspond to the TEN sayings with which G-d created the world. "This," say our sages, "teaches us that by keeping the Ten Commandments, one preserves the universe!"
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 crown placed on top of the Torah scroll is called "Keter." The word "Keter" has a numerical value of 620 (20+400+200=620). This alludes to the biblical and rabbinical mitzvot.
Q. The first letter of the Ten Commandments is "Alef" and the last one is "Chaf" (1+20) which totals 21. What is the significance of this?
A. The first letter of each of the Five Books of the Torah total 21 (2+6+6+6+1). The "Alef" in the beginning, and the "Chaf" at the end of the Ten Commandments which together total 21, teaches us that the mitzvot of the entire Torah, all the Five Books of the Torah, were given at Mount Sinai. According to our sages, all the mitzvot are found within the Ten Commandments.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:02 / Shabbat ends: 6:08
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
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