B"H
Monday, Iyar 12, 5784 / May 20, 2024 (27th day of the Omer)
This Shabbat we read Parshat Behar. One of the mitzvot in the Parsha is to help someone in need. The Torah says, "And if your brother becomes poor and his strength fails him, you shall support him, whether he is a stranger (a convert) or a sojourner, that he may live with you..."
In Pirkei Avot our sages state about the mitzvah of Tzedakah (charity); "There are four types among those who give charity, 1) One who wishes to give but doesn't want others to give - he begrudges others; 2) He who encourages others to give but doesn't give himself - he begrudges himself; 3) He who gives and wants others should give too, is a Chassid (generous person); 4) One who doesn't give and doesn't want others to give, is a wicked person." The proper way to perform the mitzvah of Tzedakah is to give and encourage others to give too.
An important condition in the mitzvah of Tzedakah is to make sure that the person receiving the help should not feel embarrassed and inferior. For this reason, many people give Tzedakah anonymously.
The Talmud tells the following story. Mar Ukva's neighbor was a poor person. Each day, Mar Ukva threw the sum of four zuzim through a hole in his neighbor’s door so that he would not know his identity.
One day, Mar Ukva and his wife stopped by the neighbor's house to drop in the four zuzim. But as they did, the man opened the door. Afraid that he would be embarrassed seeing them, they ran and hid in a large oven used for baking bread. The coals in the oven were still hot and Mar Ukva burnt his feet. However, his wife's feet were not affected. She suggested that he place his feet on hers.
"We both give charity, so why is it that my feet burnt while yours didn't?" Mar Ukva asked his wife.
His wife replied: "The reason is that you perform the mitzvah of charity by giving money to the poor. But they cannot benefit from this immediately because they must go and buy food. I am in the house and when a poor person comes, I give them food which they eat right away and benefit immediately!"
The Talmud tells us that Mar Ukva's charity was legendary. Every Erev Yom Kippur, he would send a poor person a certain amount of money. Once, he sent the money with his son, but the boy returned with it. He told his father, "The person doesn't need your money! When I came to his house, I saw him eating a festive meal and drinking good wine!"
"I didn't realize what this man's needs were," Mar Ukva said to his son. "Obviously he needs more than what I gave him." Mar Ukva immediately doubled the amount and told his son to bring it to the person!
Before Mar Ukva passed away he asked that an accounting of all the money he distributed for charity be brought before him. It amounted to a very large sum. Yet, Mar Ukva wasn't satisfied. "I'm taking too little with me for such a long journey!" he stated. He then took half of his possessions and distributed them to charity. Let’s perform an additional mitzvah and give extra charity for the merit of our captives!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & VERY SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Monday, Iyar 12, 5784 / May 20, 2024 (27th day of the Omer)
This Shabbat we read Parshat Behar. One of the mitzvot in the Parsha is to help someone in need. The Torah says, "And if your brother becomes poor and his strength fails him, you shall support him, whether he is a stranger (a convert) or a sojourner, that he may live with you..."
In Pirkei Avot our sages state about the mitzvah of Tzedakah (charity); "There are four types among those who give charity, 1) One who wishes to give but doesn't want others to give - he begrudges others; 2) He who encourages others to give but doesn't give himself - he begrudges himself; 3) He who gives and wants others should give too, is a Chassid (generous person); 4) One who doesn't give and doesn't want others to give, is a wicked person." The proper way to perform the mitzvah of Tzedakah is to give and encourage others to give too.
An important condition in the mitzvah of Tzedakah is to make sure that the person receiving the help should not feel embarrassed and inferior. For this reason, many people give Tzedakah anonymously.
The Talmud tells the following story. Mar Ukva's neighbor was a poor person. Each day, Mar Ukva threw the sum of four zuzim through a hole in his neighbor’s door so that he would not know his identity.
One day, Mar Ukva and his wife stopped by the neighbor's house to drop in the four zuzim. But as they did, the man opened the door. Afraid that he would be embarrassed seeing them, they ran and hid in a large oven used for baking bread. The coals in the oven were still hot and Mar Ukva burnt his feet. However, his wife's feet were not affected. She suggested that he place his feet on hers.
"We both give charity, so why is it that my feet burnt while yours didn't?" Mar Ukva asked his wife.
His wife replied: "The reason is that you perform the mitzvah of charity by giving money to the poor. But they cannot benefit from this immediately because they must go and buy food. I am in the house and when a poor person comes, I give them food which they eat right away and benefit immediately!"
The Talmud tells us that Mar Ukva's charity was legendary. Every Erev Yom Kippur, he would send a poor person a certain amount of money. Once, he sent the money with his son, but the boy returned with it. He told his father, "The person doesn't need your money! When I came to his house, I saw him eating a festive meal and drinking good wine!"
"I didn't realize what this man's needs were," Mar Ukva said to his son. "Obviously he needs more than what I gave him." Mar Ukva immediately doubled the amount and told his son to bring it to the person!
Before Mar Ukva passed away he asked that an accounting of all the money he distributed for charity be brought before him. It amounted to a very large sum. Yet, Mar Ukva wasn't satisfied. "I'm taking too little with me for such a long journey!" he stated. He then took half of his possessions and distributed them to charity. Let’s perform an additional mitzvah and give extra charity for the merit of our captives!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & VERY SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Friday, Iyar 9, 5784 / May 17, 2024 (24th day of the Omer)
This week’s Parsha, Emor, begins with commandments for a Kohen (priest) and Kohen Gadol (High priest), whose role was to serve in the Holy Temple. A kohen must not come close to a dead body, except for seven relatives which he may attend to. The Parsha tells us which blemishes disqualify a kohen from serving in the Temple and which disqualify an animal from being brought as a sacrifice.
In the latter half of the Parsha the Torah commands us about observing the holidays, beginning with Shabbat, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.
One of the mitzvot in this week's Parsha is the prohibition to slaughter a cow and her calf on the same day. It applies when slaughtering the animals to eat or for a sacrifice in the Holy Temple. This prohibition applies even when the calf is not slaughtered in front of its mother.
What is the reason behind this prohibition? According to the Holy Zohar, the reason for this prohibition is that we should not become insensitive and develop bad character traits.
Our sages tell us that one of the character traits in which the Jewish people excel is mercy ("Rachmanut"). The Talmud says that one can identify a descendant of the Patriarch Abraham, a Jew, by the fact that he or she is merciful to others. If anyone needed proof of this, it is very apparent in the way the IDF soldiers conduct themselves even when in battle…
The Torah prohibition not to cause suffering to animals is very strict. The Torah commands us that when one sees an animal weighed down under a heavy load, that person must help to ease the animal's burden. Also, according to Jewish law, one is not permitted to eat before feeding their animals. The animal must be fed first!
Our sages also say, "Whoever shows mercy for all of G-d's creatures will in turn cause heavenly mercy upon themselves.”
Rabbi Chayim Palagi says, “When a person is in distress or sick, he or she should make it a point to be kind to animals, like feeding birds or other animals. This invokes G-d's mercy upon us.
The Talmud tells a story about Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, compiler of the Mishna, that for many years he suffered great physical pain as a punishment for not coming to the aid of a calf that ran under his coat for safety, while being led to the slaughterhouse.
Then, one day when he saw the maid in the house chasing away little kittens, he ordered her to stop. He told her that just like G-d's mercy is upon all His creation, so too, we must have mercy upon all creatures. As a result of this kind act, Rabbi Yehuda's illness disappeared, and his pain was gone.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:03 / Shabbat ends: 9:17
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
B"H
Thursday, Iyar 8, 5784 / May 16, 2024 (23rd day of the Omer)
This Shabbat we study the third chapter of Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers). The following are a few excerpts from this chapter:
Rabbi Akiva said: "Everything is given on collateral and a net is spread over all the living; the shop is open, the shopkeeper extends credit, the ledger is open, the hand writes, and whoever wishes to borrow, let him come and borrow; the collectors make their rounds regularly, each day, and exact payment from man with or without his knowledge… And everything is prepared for the feast".
These words were said 2,000 years ago. How true are these words in today's world when we rely so much on credit. It may seem free and easy in the beginning, but there is a payment to be made one day.
"The shop is open." This world is like a store. We have free choice in whatever we do. However, "The ledger is open and the hand writes." An accurate record is kept up in heaven, for which accountability will have to be given. Rabbi Akiva concludes with, "Everything is prepared for the feast." This implies that there is great reward for those who have conducted themselves accordingly and who have accomplished their mission in this world. They lived their life knowing that there is accountability and a price to be paid for everything.
Rabbi Eliezer of Bartota said: "Give Him (G-d) of that which is His, for you and whatever is yours are His". Rabbi Eliezer teaches us that we must realize that when we give to charity, we are in reality giving G-d that which is His to begin with. It was given to us on the condition, so we can do good deeds with it. Giving to charity and helping others in need is our mission in this world. We are in reality the conduit through which Hashem helps others. He gives it to them through us, so that we will have the mitzvah and reward for this act which He could have done Himself. Thus, a person should view that whatever one gives to charity was meant to be given to charity in the first place.
Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa said: “Anyone with whom his fellowmen are pleased, G-d is pleased with him; but anyone with whom his fellowmen are not pleased; G-d is not pleased with him."
Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariya said: "Anyone whose wisdom exceeds his good deeds, to what can he be compared? To a tree whose branches are numerous but whose roots are few, and the wind comes and uproots it and turns it upside down. But anyone whose good deeds exceed his wisdom, to what can he be compared? To a tree whose branches are few but whose roots are numerous, so that even if all the winds in the world were to come and blow against it, they could not move it from its place."
"Man is compared to the tree of the field" (Deut. 20:19). Good deeds are like roots which keep the tree firmly in place. It is of great importance to educate children from a very young age in the performance of mitzvot, kindness and good deeds. These deep roots will guard and guide them throughout life.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & VERY SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.
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