B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 24, 5780 / August 14, 2020
One of the mitzvot which Moshe emphasizes in this week’s Parsha, Re’ay, is the importance of the mitzvah of Tzedakah (charity) - helping the poor and needy.
Toward the end of the Parsha, Moshe tells the Jewish people, “If there be among you a needy person, one of your brethren, within any of your gates, in the land which the L-rd your G-d gives to you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother. You shall open your hand unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need for what he needs.”
One can be charitable by contributing money or time. Our sages teach us that if one lacks financial means, he or she can still help by volunteering to collect funds and be involved in charitable causes. The Talmud states, "One who influences others to give is even greater than the one who gives."
According to our sages, one should not wait until the person is in dire need and lost all self respect and dignity. We should help them while they are "still on their own two feet."
They explain it with the following analogy: A horse and donkey were carrying a load for their master. The donkey's load was extremely heavy and exhausting while the horse's load was light.
The donkey turned to the horse and pleaded, "Please help me with my load as I feel that I cannot carry it too much longer. If you don't help, I will soon fall under my heavy burden." But the horse refused.
A little while later the donkey fell to the ground and died. The owner now transferred the donkey's entire load onto the horse!
The same, say our sages, is when someone needs help. If we refuse to help and the other person falls, then G-d may transfer that person’s load over to the one who refused to help! However, if we do help that person we are in effect helping ourselves.
The following story is in the Jerusalem Talmud: Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair once came to a city where the people complained to him, "We have a well that supplied us with enough water for all our needs. But, lately, it doesn't give as much water as it used to and we are in dire need of water."
Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said to them, "Perhaps, you are being punished measure for measure because you are not giving proper tithes to the poor from your produce!" The people realized that they were indeed lax in the giving of tzedakah and took the sage's words to heart. They became careful with their charity and the well again gave water in abundance as before.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:44 / Shabbat ends: 8:49
B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 27, 5780 / August 17, 2020
One of the instructions and mitzvot in this week’s Parsha, Shoftim, is in the following verse which consists of five words, “Tamim Tihyeh Im Hashem El-Ohecha” – “Be Tamim with G-d your G-d” (Chapter 18, verse 13).
The word “Tamim,” can be translated as complete, whole, or perfect. It can also be translated as simple, like the third son in the Hagadah, the “Tam,” which means the “simpleton.”
Here are various explanations for this “simple” and “perfect” verse:
The famous Torah commentator, Rashi, explains it to mean “simple.” He explains it as follows, “Walk with Him simple-heartily and look forward to what He has in store for you. Do not probe the future, but rather accept whatever happens to you simple-heartedly, then you will be with Him and His inheritance.”
According to Rashi, the Torah tells us, “You shall be TAMIM with G-d your G-d,” - you shall be simple; you shall not question G-d, but accept everything with faith. If you act this way, explains Rashi, you will always be connected with G-d.
Others explain the verse to mean that a person should be “complete, whole” with G-d.
How does a person accomplish being “complete’ with G-d? The mitzvot are compared to a person’s body. The 613 mitzvot represent the 613 parts of a person’s body. When a person keeps all the mitzvot, then they are whole (Tamim). Just as a body is whole and complete only when everything functions properly, so too, keeping all the mitzvot makes a person whole and complete spiritually.
Another explanation: “Be Tamim with G-d your G-d,” is that a person should be “complete with G-d,” even when you are ONLY with G-d! This means even when no one sees or will never know what you did. The Torah tells us, “Be complete [even when you are only] with G-d your G-d.”
Another wonderful explanation is, “You will be complete (“Tamim”), when you are with G-d your G-d.” The Torah tells us that being connected to G-d and observing His mitzvot makes us complete and perfect.
Another explanation: There is a verse which says, “Torat Hashem Temimah” - “The Torah of G-d is complete.” The Torah is called “Temimah,” and the Jewish people are commanded to be “Tamim” (“complete”).
A Torah scroll is not complete if even one letter is missing in it. A Torah has over 300,000 letters, yet, each letter affects and is affected by every other letter. One missing letter makes the entire Torah not readable!
The same is with the Jewish people. Every Jew is like a letter in the Torah, which affects everyone. Every mitzvah we perform affects not only the one who performs the mitzvah, but the entire Jewish nation.
The Torah tells us, “Be complete with G-d!” Your individual actions affect everyone and complete the Jewish chain. “Be complete” – do your part, for if even one link is broken, the entire Jewish chain is incomplete.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 28, 5780 / August 18, 2020
This week's Parsha Shoftim begins: "Judges and officers shall you make for you in all your gates, which the L-rd your G-d gives to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not twist judgment; you shall not show favor to one over the other;neither shall you take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous. Justice, justice you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land which G-d gives to you."
Q. What does the Torah mean by the phrase, "perverts the words of the righteous"? How could a judge who accepts a bribe be called "righteous"?
A. Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel, Rabbi of Apt, explains this with his personal experience. Two merchants once came before him to judge a case in which there was a dispute over a large sum of money. After listening to their arguments, the rabbi had an intuitive feeling that one of the litigants was trying to cheat the other.
The man realized that things were not going in his favor. In desperation, he decided to bribe the rabbi. Knowing that the righteous rabbi would never accept a bribe, he thought of an idea. He excused himself for a few minutes and went into the other room where the rabbi's coat was hanging. He placed a sum of money into the rabbi's coat pocket and returned to the courtroom.
A few minutes later, the Rabbi of Apt realized that he was beginning to reverse his verdict. Although it seemed to him like a very clear case before, he now was beginning to think otherwise. He was now finding reasons for the other litigant.
This disturbed the rabbi very much so he decided to take a recess to rethink the situation. He put on his coat and walked outside. As he was strolling, he placed his hands in the coat pocket and found the money. It didn't take the rabbi long to figure out who placed it there.
Immediately, he went back to the courtroom and exclaimed, "How great is the power of bribery to pervert the truth. Although I had no idea that I was bribed, the bribery had its effect!"
"Now," exclaimed Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel, "I understand the words of the Torah that bribery "perverts the words of the righteous." For even when the judge is righteous and has no idea that he is being bribed, the bribery will have the effect of twisting and distorting the truth."
Rosh Chodesh Elul begins Wednesday night, through Thursday and Friday. Parshat Shoftim is the first Shabbat in the month of Elul. The month of Elul is the last month of the year, when we prepare for the New Year. It is the month designated to make a thorough accounting of all our deeds throughout the previous year, in order to correct the mistakes we made during the year and strive for higher goals in the New Year. The beginning of the Parsha, "Judges and officers youshall appoint toyou,”reminds us of our responsibilities toward ourself and our fellow during this month of Elul.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 30, 5780 / August 20, 2020
Today is the first day Rosh Chodesh Elul. Tomorrow will be the second day Rosh Chodesh.
The month of Elul is the last month of the Hebrew calendar year. The next month, Tishrei, will begin the New Year, 5781. During this month of Elul, we prepare for the New Year.
During the month of Elul we wish each other a"Shana Tova" - a happy and healthy New Year.
Beginning Friday, throughout the month of Elul, the Shofar is sounded each day, after the morning service (except Shabbat). The sounding of the Shofar is a wake-up call, to remind us the significance of the month.
Our sages compare the month of Elul to a businessman who, at year's end takes stock of his business situation. He analyzes his accomplishments of the outgoing year and reflects upon his mistakes and opportunities which he missed during the year. Taking stock and reflecting on the past performances is essential to the continuation and success of the business.
The month of Elul serves the same purpose. During this month we prepare ourselves for the coming year by reviewing our spiritual accomplishments and the lack of them in the past year. We reflect upon our behavior and our relationship with G-d as well as with our fellow human beings.
Q. What is the historical significance of the month of Elul?
A. When the Jewish people worshipped the Golden Calf after the Giving of the Torah, G-d wanted to destroy them. Moshe prayed to G-d to have mercy on His people. Upon descending the Mountain he broke the Tablets. He then went up the mountain and prayed for 40 days for forgiveness for his people. G-d then told Moshe to go down and bring up Two Tablets. On Rosh Chodesh Elul he went up Mount Sinai and came down 40 days later, on Yom Kippur, with the Second Tablets and G-d's forgiveness for the Jewish people.
Ever since, the month of Elul was designated as a month for repentance and forgiveness.
The Baal Shem Tov compares our accessibility to G-d, during this month of Elul, to a king who travels through the country to visit his citizens for one month during the year. While the king is in his palace, it may be difficult for the average citizen to meet the king. But when the king travels through the countryside, everyone has easier access to him and can make any request of him.
The same is with G-d, explains the Baal Shem Tov. Other times of the year, one has to make a greater effort to penetrate the Gates of Heaven. However, during the month of Elul, G-d is easily accessible and fulfills all our requests.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
A WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH & A SHANA TOVA – A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR
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